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Valley princesses vie for glass slipper
Cinderella tried on the glass slipper, and it magically fit.
YOUNGSTOWN — A princess needs to find her prince.
Area girls got their chance when Prince Charming made a stop at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday.
The visit was part of a fourth annual fundraiser for The Youngstown Playhouse.
“We have always done it at Christmastime,” said Patricia Fagan, Youngstown Playhouse Youth Theatre artistic director and creator of the event. “It’s really one of our gifts to the community, because we’re providing the community with an inexpensive event to take their families to.”
Twinkling lights, yards of tulle, and blue and purple balloons transformed the bare church room into a fairy-tale ball. Prince Charming twirled girls dressed in their frilly best or in Cinderella’s trademark blue gown around the dance floor. And those same girls tried on the beautiful glass slipper the prince carried, in the hopes that it would fit.
“Cinderella’s my favorite [princess],” Hannah Patchin of Warren said, “because I like the glass slipper.”
Though she wasn’t sure about dancing with the prince, 5-year-old Hannah was excited to try on the glass slipper.
“We usually go to a play at The Youngstown Playhouse,” Hannah’s mom, Andrea Patchin, said. “It’s like a tradition. We do it every year.”
The Playhouse is temporarily closed, however, so the pair thought the Cinderella Brunch would be a good substitute.
Claire Toth, 7, of Pulaski, Pa., a regular Disney World visitor, came dressed as Cinderella. She was excited about her turn trying on the glass slipper.
“I think it’s a wonderful Christmas experience for the kids, and the fantasy of the medieval time is nice,” her mom, Karen Toth, said.
Prince Charming wasn’t the only visitor to the church. Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters and stepmother made an appearance, as did Cinderella. She brought her broom and offered to clear brunch dishes.
But like Hannah and Claire, Cinderella had a chance to try on the glass slipper. And magically, it fit. She changed her drab clothes for a beautiful ball gown, danced with her prince, and the couple lived happily ever after.
“The little girls that come, I think they get magic out of it, and they get an opportunity to show what pretty and wonderful young ladies that they are,” Fagan said. “It gives them a chance, I think, to feel special.”
The event ended with a visit from Santa Claus.