By Susan Granger

Based on Charles Perrault’s “Cendrillon, or the History of the Glass Slipper” (1698), “Cinderella” is a live-action extravaganza that re-imagines the romantic folk tale for the 21st century.

As the story begins, 10-year-old Ella (Eloise Webb) is living happily with her merchant father (Ben Chaplin) and devoted mother (Hayley Atwell), who urges her to “have courage and be kind.”

Years later, after her mother’s death, Ella’s father marries haughty, mean-spirited Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) who has two vain daughters: Drisella (Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Holliday Grainger).

After he dies on a business trip, now-grown Ella (Lily James) is treated like a scullery maid and banished to the attic where she befriends the house mice. But she doesn’t lack self-esteem, as evidenced by her chance encounter with Prince Kit (Richard Madden) while riding her horse in the forest.

Lacey Angerthal, 6, of Westport today admires Westport artist Sooo-z Mastropietro’s work that is part of   the Westport Art Center’s third Pop Up Show, by the Westport Artists Collective. The one-night show will be Thursday 6 to 8 p.m. It is free and open to the public. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Linn Cassetta of Project Return shows off 20 birdhouses from the past 20 years of Project Return’s Birdhouse fundraiser that will be on display as part of the Westport Arts Center’s pop up exhibition on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. A preview of the “The Art of the Birdhouse – A Celebration of 20 Years” will be held Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Marina White for WestportNow.com

There were angels and devils around Westport today promoting the Westport Arts Center’s May 16 Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil spring gala. Young women from the local National Charity League handed out devilishly good hot chocolate and divinely sweet orange juice in downtown Westport and at the Westport Weston Family YMCA. Among those at the YMCA were (l-r) Cecilia Adams, Allie Avila, Jillian Rogers, Kelley Schutte, and Noelle Amlicke. Tickets go on sale Monday and can be purchased on the WAC website or by phone (203)222-7070. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com

Volunteers get ready today for a Westport Library book sale beginning Saturday through Tuesday. The sale includes a large collection of Modern Library titles and features a collection of post-war jazz records described as in “great condition.” Hours are Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m., Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (half price), and Tuesday 9 a.m. to noon (everything free, donations welcome). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

Opening with one of the shortest and most amusing segments, Argentinian filmmaker Damian Szifron’s “Wild Tales” is an unconventional anthology, built around the psychological concept of revenge.

“Pasternak” deals with a fateful encounter on a plane, as a suave music critic (Dario Grandinetti) begins a conversation with a beautiful model (Maria Marull). But they’re not the only people in business class with a connection to the model’s ex-boyfriend, Gabriel Pasternak. Think “Twilight Zone.”

“Rats” revolves around a waitress (Julieta Zylbergberg) in a roadside diner who discovers that her only customer (Cesar Bordon) is the loan shark who drove her father to suicide. When the ex-con cook (Rita Cortese) learns the truth, retribution seems inevitable.

As the cautionary “Road to Hell” begins, a rich, arrogant businessman (Leonardo Sbarglia) is driving his shiny, new Audi, rudely giving the finger to a redneck (Walter Donado) in an old Peugeot. Then when the Audi gets a flat tire, road rage takes over.

The Staples Players cast of “Sweeney Todd (School Edition): The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” takes a bow tonight to a standing ovation at the final dress rehearsal before performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as next weekend. For further information, visit www.staplesplayers.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

MBA students from Hungary today visited the Westport Arts Center (WAC) during a one-week visit to the United States. It was led by Christopher Ball of Quinnipiac University, who is director of its Central European Institute and a honorary Hungarian consul. They were welcomed by Helen Klisser During, WAC’s artistic director. The visitors also made stops at Mitchells of Westport and Birinyi Associates, a Westport-based stock market research and money management firm. It is headed by Laszlo Birinyi Jr., whose father led the family out of Hungary during World War II. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo