Disenchanted

Art in Motion Theatre presented this “New Musical Comedy” which has a cabaret feel, to healthy, appreciative audience. Featuring an all-female, diverse cast, this show parodies the Disney Princess tropes as the princesses reveal what they really think.

Presented on a bare stage in front of a strong three-piece band, well led by Joanne Hartnett, specialty lighting designed by Chloe Palliser helps give this show some pizazz. Costumes, designed by Stella Sawyer and Lys Tickner pay a nod to the original Disney design, but have a distinctly modern look - think Disney Bounding for those familiar with that hobby. Connie Wetherilt’s hair and makeup design also helps to make our princesses immediately recognisable.

The show is hosted by the original Disney Princess Snow White (a confident and sassy Lizzie Martin) and her besties Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Oneisha Ludlow’s Sleeping Beauty is a very clever portrayal and well may be her best role, as well as her biggest, to date, while Sara Cleary’s sweet voiced Cinderella has an interesting journey, that is nicely portrayed, in her first leading role.

We don’t see enough of Hayley Currie’s emotionally unstable Belle - my guess is that in the original this was a doubled role, and director Lys Tickner has “gone by the book” and not brought her back for ensemble numbers. Similarly small roles are Tara Talbot’s Rapunzel, whose performance could be a cut scene from the musical Cabaret, Fufina Mwangura’s empowered portrayal of The Princess Who Kissed the Frog and Mehrgan KP’s promising stage debut as Princess Badroulbadour.

Sarah Chen was a delight as Hua Mulan, Paris Ceg found the wild side of The Little Mermaid and Ebony Uetake made a very welcome return to the stage after the birth of her first child, as a very truthful Pocahontas.

This is a show that has very clever lyrics, but unfortunately these were not always clear for several reasons. It felt like the show was played too loud - with microphones distorting at times, and often the (justified) anger in this show was played by shouting - which both obscured what performers were saying as well as diminishing impact as shouting was simply used too much. It may have been worth pursuing quiet anger for more characters.

A great effort from a young cast, where at least four are still teenagers. Wonderful to see an all-female cast having a ball on stage.

Kimberley Shaw