I love Disney. Like many, I grew up watching the Disney animated classics such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Mulan just to name a few. They were all entertaining with amazing song numbers, stories, villains, heroes, but most of all – happy endings. But what happens after ‘happily ever after’? When I heard about ‘Disenchanted!’, I leaped at the opportunity to review it. ‘Disenchanted!’ is a musical comedy that fleshes out the fairytale princesses who have come to set the record straight.
Making its Australian debut, the Mad About Theatre production of ‘Disenchanted!’ consists a cast of only 6 talented women, some taking on multiple roles. Snow White played by Ellie Nunan is no longer a dainty damsel in distress, but a fierce, feisty feminist who is the leader of the pack. Cinderella played by Courtney Underhill is an adorably ditzy and funny sparkly lady who loves her shoes, still occasionally picks up a broom and cannot stand rats. Sleeping Beauty played by Tayla Johnston considers herself to be an imperfect princess in comparison to the social norm and although is no longer under any curse, still sleeps a lot and seem to suffer from a bit of narcolepsy.
Asabi Goodman plays ‘The Princess Who Kissed the Frog’ who is very commanding, voluptuous and in general a bad ass woman. Last but not least, cast members Demi Phillips and Jennifer Trijo both take on various roles to impressively play a total of 6 princesses, and that’s a lot of estrogen! Not only did each cast member shine individually with their amazing acting skills and impressively insane vocals, but their chemistry with the audience and with each other was great. You really believe that these princesses have known each other for years, all suffering from the ‘princess complex’ together.
‘Disenchanted!’ is very cheeky, a bit rude and is absolutely hilarious. It would be hard to find anyone in their seat not smiling at this production. As for me, I was cackling! Originating as an Off-Broadway production, the book, music and lyrics are written by Dennis T. Giacino. As the script did originate in America, it does make minor American references that Australian audiences wouldn’t understand, but this is just a minor thing and not predominant to the show as a whole. For the most part, the show is fun, entertaining and I strongly recommend checking it out. By the end of the show, my friend and I had already picked out our favourite princesses from the production, both agreeing we’d love to go for a drink and party with Cinderella. Not only would she know a thing or two about balls, but she’d be a hell of a good time!
‘Disenchanted!’ is one of those rare productions that not only will you have fun watching it, but you can evidently see the cast are having just as much as fun entertaining you. The Australian premiere, Mad About Theatre’s production of ‘Disenchanted!’ is now on at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne, Australia from the 6th of September to the 8th of September with 4 shows only. Tickets are available through Ticketek now. There are two more shows left – so go while you still can before these princesses leave reality and go back to being just fairytales.