Bespoke Theatre for Diverse Communities
Cinderella Shoeshine
Cinderella Shoeshine - Story Line
It’s 1948, and a cold, foggy November morning when Lucinda and her brother Ben sail up the river Thames to Tilbury Docks. They have taken the long long journey from their Caribbean island to come to a new country – to make a new life. Lucinda is bursting with excitement at the thought of seeing London, so when Tower Bridge rises up ahead she knows that their journey is nearly at an end. But what will the future bring? No loving Grandma will be there to take care of them. As they leave the ship, Ben lugs along their big suitcase, crammed with everything they possess. Loaded as he is, as they leave the ship Lucinda leaves him well behind. But Ben struggles manfully, and their precious suitcase lands with them – in an unknown land.
Arriving at Tilbury docks, they view their surrounding with dismay. People are “rude and nasty, and don’t help with luggage. I did not expect people to be rude” says Lucinda. “You sound just like our Grandma now. Wish that she was here.” – Ben is feeling down. “Wish she was. That’d scare ’em” replies Lucinda. So she begins to dream – of a far far better place than this – America! New York!! Ben joins in – “Everybody so rich! Ice cream! Film stars! Big big cars!” And their American sisters will be there to meet them…………. Lucinda is already dreaming on – Ben has to follow, dragging the suitcase behind him.
Transported by this wish, Ben and Lucinda arrive, penniless, on the streets of New York. The only friends they make are the street children, who scrape a few cents by selling papers and shining shoes – the little Shoeshiners. Ben and Lucinda have little luck learning how to shoeshine. Without a dime to their name they have no choice – they prepare to sleep on the street. Next day the little Shoeshiners are in luck – today is the Bride’s wedding day. They’ll give her shoes a lovely shine, but something spoils her outfit. Even her friends wonder why she wears that dead fur hat. And Ben? He has slipped away on his own. Where has he gone?
As soon as he’s back Ben gets into a fight. Lucinda doesn’t know where he has been, but a little Shoeshiner shouts out “He called up someone on that telephone”. Ben doubts the Newsboy is a real American because he isn’t rich. He frisks the boy for money, and finding none knows this is the truth. But the Shoeshiner is unhappy with being frisked, and lands him one. In a split second all the children are in a rolling tussling heap. As Lucinda tries to pull Ben out of the fight, a loud American voice drawls – “You called? There stands Elvira and Adeline, their American step sisters.
“Did I call you?” says Lucinda. “Oh no.” Ben butts in “It was me, Luce. I thought we’d say hello. It’s our sisters, Lucinda.””Lucinda?” Elvira sneers. “Looks more like Cinderella to me.” Lucinda is thrilled to meet the ladies, but soon they find that their new sisters are tough cookies. Ben thinks the two sisters will let them stay at their place, but the sisters demand the rent – “Twenty dollars – that’s the American way.”
Ben and Lucinda, newly renamed Cinderella, have no money for rent, so have one more try at shoe shining. But the Ladies don’t like their finish, and the Shoeshiners don’t like the competition – the street kids now rename Lucinda ‘Cinderella Shoeshine’. Weary and hungry, as night is falling there is only one thing to do. Two sad people settle down to sleep on the street. All this time, an unexpected person has been watching everything that happens down below. High above the scene, a very magical lady is disguised as a billboard picture. The picture advertises vacuum cleaners for Magic Maid – but this lady is no housewife!
Ben has fallen fast asleep with his head on the precious suitcase. Cinderella can’t sleep at all. Down on the sidewalk, she nearly despairs of her American dream, but a little spark of hope still lights up inside. Still unaware of anyone nearby, her dreams are suddenly interrupted by a sharp American voice briskly ticking her off – “Come along now, Miss Shoeshine, this attitude won’t do, you know.” It’s her Fairy Godmother, who plans to give her a sparkling tin of magic shoe polish “It’s shoe magic. We keep home the modern way.” She must be ready to shine shoes when the New York ladies come by next day. The morning is a huge success. Cinders and Ben have so many customers that they share the work, and money, with their young Shoeshiner friends.
The Fairy Godmother has disappeared, and Bennie pops off to carry the Bride’s bag to the train station, when Elvira and Adeline turn up, just stopping by to see if Cinderella made the rent. “Twenty dollars?” says Cinderella – “There you are. Can we go home now please?- we’re very tired.” Quick thinking the sisters snap – “That’s not enough. The charge is forty.” Cinderella can’t pay so much, she promised the Shoeshiners a share. They’ll have to sleep on the street for another night.
But Ben returns, announcing “I got a job, I got a job.” He is in a new suit, with buttons all down his front – transformed by his new job into a car attendant on the railroad to Hollywood. Hearing this, Elvira and Adeline decide that they must take a ride to Hollywood – chance their luck as movie stars! The Shoeshiners insist Cinders has to go too, she will be the movie star, and of course they have to come! They have just made enough money for the fare. Everyone gets on board the long long train to Hollywood.
Reaching Hollywood, all the passengers arrive finally at the rooming house where they are to stay. The Shoeshiners carry in Adeline and Elvira’s large, fancy boxes and cases and Cinders asks – “Where is our suitcase?” “Elvira told us “Just leave that trash heap on the train” say the Shoeshiners. The sisters have seen to it that the suitcase is left on the train “Halfway back to New York by now!” Cinders and Ben, are once again penniless , – no possessions and no magic shoe polish. They will have to cook and clean for Adeline and Elvira, and Ben must find work to pay the rent. The stepsisters swan off to the film studio to book a screen test. Things have gone from bad to worse.
The children return from an exploration. They have found a back way into the movie studios, and have seen Al McCartney, the movie star! He’s dressed as a cowboy and his limousine is parked right outside. They’re going back to the studios and want Cinders to come too. She is uncertain if she should, but it all sounds so wonderful that soon the whole party have crept into the darkened studio. Cinders hides. Sure enough Mr McCartney is working on a vocal routine. He greets the children kindly and lets them watch his rehearsal. Though they are trespassing, “You”re only kids” he says.
Cinderella sings along snatches of the melody. She nearly gives the game away, she’s a real grown up and will be in big trouble if she’s found. The Shoeshiners make excuses and leave in a hurry, as Miss Elvira arrives with a chorus for her screen test as a 1940’s singing, swimming, star. Soon, she’s in a bit too deep. Slowly, still singing she sinks into the deep blue Hollywood pool, until at the last bubble she’s gone under for good. She’s not responding, so the ambulance staff take her away to dry out.
Cinderella is looking for Elvira to see if she needs help, when a smart lady in dance kit walks briskly by. Cinders gasps as the lady turns around. It’s her Fairy Godmother, dressed ready to help Cinderella move along in the movie world! She gives Cinders a big white apron and a water cooler, and tells her to find Studio 23 – sell some water. Cinderella does not like this idea – “I have servant clothes already, my sisters gave me some” – but decides to trust her godmother – give it a try. Suddenly a loud scream of “Cinders – Come and help me with this costoome ” smashes the silence. It’s Adeline, preparing for her screen test. Cinderella runs fast in the other direction.
Adeline’s audition was not a success. She ended by screaming for Cinderella to fetch her yet another costume. But this was not to be. Al McCartney had already auditioned all the chorus girls and did not fancy any as his co-star. The Fairy Godmother gets the chorus in line and the children beg to join them – to have a try at the big dance routine. The children keep up bravely! – but finally Cinderella forgets herself and sings a few lines from “Love to Dance.” Al McCartney overhears her and asks if she can dance too.- Swiftly magicked into dance costume, Cinders and her Fairy Godmother dance a slick little Top Hat and Stick number. Al McCartney invites Cinders to star with him in his new movie, and wasting no time they start to rehearse together on their dance routines.
The movie is finished , and ready for its opening night. The street is crowded with the New York Ladies and the Shoeshiners when Adeline and Elvira arrive, got up in amazing costumes. Adeline is wearing her Opera Star outfit, and Elvira is dressed as Cleopatra – (“Al McCartney and Cleopatra”…….)!? At last Cinderella arrives in a dazzling new dance dress, and they lead everyone in a brand new Lindy Hop Routine.
Everyone is really swinging when the clock strikes twelve and Cindy and Al are torn apart. In frantic haste to find Bennie Cinderella loses a dancing shoe. The dream is over. In despair Al finds the shoe that fell from her foot as she ran, and vows he will always be faithful to the girl who owns the shoe that makes it a pair.. The Hollywood world, the Shoeshiners and the grown up New Yorkers – all part of Lucinda’s dream, fade away with the dying of the music and the scene rolls back to the UK – Tilury Docks on a chilly November evening in 1948.
Still intent on finding and claiming Al McCartney, Adeline and Elvira are a little confused to find themselves on the banks of the Thames on Tilbury docks. But nothing matters to them now if their Movie Staris here. Still, jealousy as to which one shall finally be the his bride does lead to a few problems, as they warm up by having a go at their own special dance routine.
Full scale musical for children and family audiences
Cast
Adults: 6
Teenagers: 10
Children: 8
(can be varied to accommodate)
Running time
1 hour 20 minutes without interval
Cinderella Shoeshine was written in 1999 for Peckham’s growing up population of people of Caribbean and African heritage. By 1999, I had already been a Peckham resident for 26 years and had become deeply integrated into local culture. It seemed right to create a Christmas story that belonged to its surroundings. At that time we broke new ground – the lives of characters within the story were not as much common currency in the theatre world as they are today. Some little girls from a local primary school were heard outside the old theatre, pointing up to the poster and proudly saying – “That theatre had a BLACK Cinderella!” The London Caribbean population came from all over town to see the show. In the show pictured on this site, the adult characters were played by actors who had all their training at Theatre Peckham.
It was a popular choice and regularly sold out. A second production was mounted in 2005, and a third in 2018 as the last of my Christmas shows for Theatre Peckham.
Here is an early recording of the complete production of this show, enjoy!
If you would like to perform Cinderella Shoeshine with your company, musical theatre society, or school, please email: productionshollyblue@gmail.com
Full script, backing tracks for complete show, vocal recordings for all songs, and original working designs are all available.
© Holly Blue Productions