Cinderella and Pickwick and The Goblins - 1972

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Geneva Daily Times, February 2, 1972.

Children entering Coxe Hall to see Cinderella.
Families wait in Bartlett Theater for Cinderella to start.
Families wait in Bartlett Theater for Cinderella to start.
Children wait for Cinderella to start in Bartlett Theater.
Young girl in Coxe hall at the Cinderella perfromance
A family sits in Bartlett Theater in Coxe Hall before Cinderella.
Families wait for Cinderella to start in Bartlett Theater.
Actors apply makeup before Cinderella.
Students arrange the set for Cinderella.
Students perform in Cinderella at Coxe Hall.
Families watching Cinderella.
Actors talking with audience members after the production of Cinderella.
An actor talking with children after Cinderella.
The audience and actors mingle in Bartlett Theater.
An actor poses with a child after Cinderella.

Cinderella

Cinderella was first presented in Bartlett Theater in Coxe Hall to 200 children and adults in early February 1972 before traveling around upstate New York.

Davis's adaptation of Cinderella differed from the traditional tale. According to Davis, Cinderella "deserves something better than a prince" and ends up marying an elf who lived behind her mantelpiece instead of the childish and immature Prince Charming.

As was intended for Children's Theater shows, Cinderella had many inexperienced actors. Under the direction of William McAdoo, they developed their skills and were highly praised by both The Herald and the Geneva Daily Times.

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Geneva Daily Times, April 28, 1972.

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Geneva Daily Times, February 22, 1972.

Pickwick and The Goblins

Pickwick and the Goblins, an original play by Russel Davis '71, was first performed in Bartlett Theater in late February 1972. Directed by Lew Lafford '71, this show was an attempt to "get away from 'kiddie' shows and appeal to adults as well." It was advertised for kids aged 4 and up and "intelligent adults".

The show follows the story of fours kids and "Pickwick" who learn to conquer their fears after meeting goblins. The Pickwick script won a first place play-writing prize from the Empire State Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters.

Russel Davis

Russell Davis performs with Christie Logan.jpg

Russell Davis performs with another student in his yearbook photo, 1972.

Cinderella and Pickwick and The Goblins were written by Russel Davis '71. Davis both performed in and helped to produce many Little Theater shows and remained active after his graduation by working on The Children's Theater in 1972. He later worked as an actor with the Traveling Playhouse's children's theater.