Synopsis
Our tale begins with poor Cinderella left alone at home, only to be scooped up and whisked off to the Ball by her Fairy Godmother. There she meets the Prince, falls in love, forgets the time and rushes from the castle at midnight, leaving behind a single glass slipper (A CINDERELLA STORY).
Days later, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are visited by Inspector Lestrade and presented with an intriguing case – the mysterious disappearance of an unknown woman. Without a moment’s hesitation, Sherlock takes the case and he and Watson make their way through the streets of London to Savile Row (CALL SHERLOCK).
On Savile Row, they enter ‘Boutons and Boutons’ tailors and seek disguises from flamboyant Frenchman Monsieur Boutons and his costumiers (DRESS TO EXCESS). By the end of the song, Holmes is dressed as a Duke, and Watson as a female cook.
At Charming Castle, Prince Charming hears news from the major-domo that the ‘foot search’ has thus far proved fruitless. Holmes and Watson arrive in their disguises and are welcomed in by the King, especially because Holmes hints that he might be able to find a marriage partner for the King’s rebellious daughter, Arabella.
Meanwhile, Cinderella, isolated and ridiculed by her stepsisters, dreams of what might have been (TRYING TO SMILE). Then her father enters bemoaning the theft of his prize pumpkin. Knowing it was turned into a coach to take her to the Ball, Cinderella runs from the room in shame.
Holmes is in the castle grounds, looking for clues. He finds a mouse and a piece of pumpkin which he pockets, telling Watson that both are part of the jigsaw. Meanwhile, Cinderella and the Prince, separately, reflect on their current conundrum (WAITING FOR MY LIFE TO CHANGE).
The ugly sisters, Imelza and Bellona, are clawing at each other as usual (UGLY). They mock Cinderella, calling her a lazy little thief, but she does at least overhear them discussing the glass slipper and the Prince’s quest. Meanwhile, Narcissa (Cinderella’s stepmother) reveals to her lady’s maid a replica pair of slippers, much larger but otherwise identical to the actual glass slipper (IF THE SHOE FITS).
Unbeknown to Narcissa, the major-domo is already in the house and the ugly sisters are trying to force their feet into the tiny slipper. When they fail and storm out, Narcissa sneaks down and replaces the real slipper for the bigger alternative, unaware that her daughters have already failed with the real one. Cinderella stumbles upon the larger slipper and is given the chance to try it on by the major-domo, only to despair at it being far too big for her.
The major-domo heads to the market (ALL THE PEOPLE) and offers any maidens a chance to try on the (now fake) glass slipper. Even Watson, still disguised as a female cook, is given the chance. Lo and behold, it fits! Watson, caught up in the euphoria of the moment, agrees that he will indeed marry the Prince.
At Charming Castle, Holmes is grilling the Prince on the events at midnight when Watson enters, carried aloft by a cheering crowd. Honouring his pledge, the Prince gets down on one knee and is about to propose marriage when Holmes steps in. He reveals his, not to mention Watson’s, true identity, and asks to see the slipper that somehow managed to fit Watson’s manly foot. He realises it is a fake, and the whole royal household follow him from the castle as he starts to pull all the threads together.
At Cinderella’s house, her father sees Holmes, Watson and the Charmings walking up their garden path. Narcissa drags Cinderella to her attic room and locks her in, unwilling for her to be seen. But Holmes gets the measure of her straight away, and before long Cinderella is rescued by Watson, the real glass slippers are located, and the Prince is on one knee once again. This time, in front of his one true love (SHERLOCK SAVES THE DAY).
