Oak Harbor High School Drama Club is taking on a classic story of romance, class, hope and sibling rivalry for the spring musical.

Parker Hall is transformed into a magical and sometime wacky kingdom where anyone might burst into song at any moment in the production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. It’s an all-student performance that they’ve been practicing for more than three months.

While there are many version of the Cinderella story out there, teacher Shauna Lindsey and the drama club chose the popular musical that originally aired on live TV in 1957. It was written for and starred Julie Andrews. Most recently, an updated version starred Brandy and Whitney Houston.

The kids do the story justice. Brittany St. Julien and Brian Culbertson take on the leading role of Cinderella and the Prince with finesse. They both have strong voices and can act.

The twosome are especially impressive in the smoochy one-on-one scenes, where they act the part of nervous lovers without making the audience gag. They are even brave enough to kiss inside a building where public displays of affection are usually frowned upon.

One of the most interesting things about the musical is that it fleshed out some minor characters from the tale. Most notably, there’s the king and queen, played by Keath Worley and Nikki Cook. They bicker about their son, the prince, and a troublesome pair of pants, but their genuine affection for each other comes through.

The ball is the queen’s idea, and the king and prince reluctantly go along. She worries about her depressed son and hopes that he will find a mate at the party. The prince agrees to attend, but is not happy about the prospects of meeting the “simpering candidates.”

Meanwhile, Cinderella is practically enslaved by her wicked stepmother, played by Jenn Sides, and the two equally wicked stepsisters, Sharayah Lovell and Danica Humphries. They are truly mean, but also very funny, especially in the slapstick scenes in which they try to woo the prince.

Cinderella wants to leave, but the memory of her dead father prevents her. She turns to her godmother, played by Kathy Magnuson, for help. She speaks in Dr. Seuss-type rhymes and sings the most memorable song, “Impossible.”

Of course, the godmother turns out to be a Fairy Godmother turns Cinderella’s hopes and dream into reality. She gets to go the ball. The pumpkin becomes a carriage drawn by giant mice, which travels through the audience. A glass slipper is left behind. The prince searches high and low for the foot that fits.

The traditional story has some twists and turns, but it’s all in good fun with some lessons thrown in. The drama club’s production is perfect for families, or anyone who enjoys music, a good story or the spectacle of costumed kids hamming it up onstage.