Act One

The first scene takes place in the home of Cinderella's father. There, Cinderella's ugly sisters Khudyshka and Kubyshka (Skinny and Dumpy) quarrel and make life difficult for the forlorn and beautiful Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother, taking the appearance of a beggar woman, appears to Cinderella, her sisters, and father, but only Cinderella shows pity and helps her.

After taking a dancing lesson, Khudyshka and Kubyshka prepare for the ball, while Cinderella can only dream about attending. But the beggar woman reappears to her and unmasks her real identity as the Fairy Godmother. She waves her magic wand and Cinderella is suddenly standing in a magnificent garden, where she is provided with a beautiful gown and other adornments by the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Fairies. Cinderella is excited, but is warned that she must leave the ball before the clock strikes midnight, the time when the magic will end and the gown will transform back to the rags she usually wears.



Act Two

This act takes place at the ball, where Khudyshka and Kubyshka dance clumsily. The handsome Prince enters to much fanfare, and then Cinderella arrives. All in attendance are captivated by her beauty and innocence, but her sisters and stepmother do not recognize her. Alone with the Prince after the others have retreated to adjoining rooms, Cinderella dances with him and they fall in love. While they dance a waltz, she suddenly remembers the warning to depart before midnight. She flees in haste, losing one of her slippers. The Prince pursues her to no avail, but he finds the lost slipper.



Act Three

The Prince attempts to learn from the kingdom's cobblers which one of them had made the slipper. His efforts turn up nothing and he decides the charming girl must be from a foreign land. He goes in search of her, first to the South, then to the Far East, then nearer to his homeland, but can find her nowhere. Meanwhile, back home, Cinderella looks at the other slipper in her apron pocket and realizes the ballroom events were not a dream. Soon the Prince arrives with the slipper, and Khudyshka and Kubyshka both try it on, finding it much too small for their big feet. Cinderella helps her stepmother to try it on, and in the event loses the other slipper from her apron pocket. The Prince suddenly realizes he has found his princess and the two declare their mutual love.

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