Jenna Russell: Why you should see Soho Cinders

The
musical, which opens on 9 August (previews from 3 August), is a modern take on Cinderella set in the heart of London.

Russell won an Olivier for playing Dot/Marie in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s revival of Sondheim favourite Sunday in the Park with George. Other credits include Amy’s View, Guys and Dolls and High Society. Here’s her take on the show and the story of how she got involved.

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It’s a modern take on the Cinderella story, but obviously it
veers off into more interesting areas. We still have the classic characters
from the fairytale; there’s the Cinderella character (Robbie, who is a
hard-working student with a secret life), the prince (James Prince who is running
for London Mayor and is my character’s fiancée)
and the ugly sisters who run a “gentlemen’s club”. There are also a
host of new characters that weave in and out of the central plot.

In terms of musicals, I think it’s a very interesting piece.
It’s a funny and catchy score, there are some beautiful contemporary ballads
that could be singles, and I don’t know of any musicals that are written about
being in our beloved capital, London… today! Hopefully
because we are playing throughout the Olympics, we will attract an
international audience to the show. I think they will see a slice of modern
London life.

The show is set in and around Old Compton Street in Soho. Funnily
enough I lived there years ago, it’s an extraordinary place. I recall we didn’t
have a telly in the little attic flat we lived in above the Amalfi Restaurant,
I would look out of the window instead and watch the world go by. It was one of
the few places (and I’ve lived in a lot of places in London) where you saw
every class, every type of person, everyone trying to make a living in whatever
way they could, good and bad. It was a real melting pot, as it still is.

I suppose you could say I’ve been involved with the show for
ages now, George & Ants are old friends and we’ve worked together on and
off for (giving my age away) over 20 years. I first sang “I’m So Over Men”
with Ria Jones at a concert celebrating their work at Regent’s Park Open Air
Theatre about 10 years ago. It’s a big belting comedy anthem that the Ugly
Sisters sing – it brought the house down then so in the wonderfully capable
hands of the comedy genius that is Beverley Rudd & Suzie Chard, it will
undoubtedly be a show-stopper.

It is a real joy for me to be back in the rehearsal room
with George and Ants and the new member of their team, Elliot Davis who has
co-written the show with them. Then, of course, there’s our director, Jonathan
Butterell who has returned to London after living and working in New York for
several years. I did Into the Woods with Jonathan (he
co-directed) at the Donmar 12 years ago, so for me personally it’s lovely to be
surrounded by dear old friends.

I believe this show will appeal to all. We are representing
London, the interesting Bohemian life that is Old Compton Street and the
extraordinary place that it is. We really are lucky to still have this
thriving community in central London existing and thriving;
it’s its own special bubble that encompasses and holds hands with all of our
society.

Soho Cinders brings high comedy,
politics, sex scandals, family legal battles, etc… It’s a show with love at its
heart and, fingers crossed, we all get at least one shot at that in
our lives.

** DON’T MISS our Whatsonstage.com Outing to SOHO CINDERS THIS TUESDAY 7 AUGUST 2012 and get your top-price ticket, a FREE signed poster and access to our EXCLUSIVE post-show Q&A with the cast and creatives – all for the INCREDIBLE price of just £30.00!! CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW! **