ADC Theatre, 4th-7th May, 11pm, £4-6
Directed by Henry Scarlett and Ben Atkinson
“Tonight will be the Disney-est night of your life”.
So for someone who despises musicals and would prefer some of the more terrifying Disney films from my childhood to stay suppressed, I was sceptical as to whether I could make it through with my sanity intact. Particularly as it shows at the un-child-friendly time of 11pm, and Lord knows I like an early night. (Editor’s note: written at approx 3am)
But this show is worth the sketchy walk home after. I never thought I’d hear myself type it, but Disney is clearly the most pleasant way of uniting an audience in heart-felt nostalgia where, gaping around the room, we had felt the only connection between us is mind-melting exam-stress. (Editor’s note: says the English fresher)
And what an enchanting way of doing Disney on the stage! The live orchestra, 40 strong, were well-arranged and gave an impeccable performance. It’s only when hearing these classic tunes in a live environment that the ‘Disney experience’ of childhood comes flooding back. Songs from Beauty and the Beast welcome us in, just as we once were so warmly welcomed by animated crockery into the hauntingly large castle of the grotesque and terrifying Beast with ‘Be Our Guest’. Being a kid was weird.
Photographs by Amy Jeffs
But it works so well! Our childhood selves can leave the can of worms that is the empirical existence of a talking-French-candlestick behind, but age and experience opens up the hilarity of the vocalists’ hilariously flamboyant interpretation of Disney’s ever-pertinent message: ‘Mock the French’.
Because of this, the production doesn’t only cater for obscene ‘DISNEY TILL I DIE’ obsessives. The cast are extremely self-aware, and often the focal point of the comedy is critically noting the blatant paradoxes of Disney. If you thought the films themselves had lewd references enough, you were wrong; sex jokes about Disney provide crude but side-splitting entertainment throughout the performance, which are only heightened by the Pythonesque characterisation of the male soloists and performers.
My only reservation is the occasionally contrived nature of the solo vocalists; it sounded as though the female vocalists had been classically trained, and over-zealous vibrato sometimes gave the impression that they were taking it all a little too seriously, and the vocal execution of some songs didn’t gel generically with the comedy of the overall performance. All the soloists are exceedingly talented, but I did occasionally feel that a stronger distinction should be made between West-end style musical and cartoon parody.
It’s a saccharine treat for the Disney-lovers, for the music-lovers, and for the comedy-lovers of Cambridge. Tears of laughter and nostalgia are refreshingly cathartic after the tears of pain and stress that I’m sure we’ve all been shedding, alone, in the dark, surrounded by illegible lecture notes from terms gone by. I couldn’t recommend a more motivating (legal) lift than going to see this performance. Don’t go to Life, don’t go to Fez – you may go to bed with that warm, fuzzy feeling, but you certainly don’t wake up with it. See Once Upon A Dream, where everyone’s a winner.
I kind of disagree. I can't imagine that anyone not obsessed with Disney will like this show. I mean, I'd consider myself in the 'DISNEY TIL I DIE' obsessive category, but I found the show to be lacking in heart, such a staple of Disney's work.
I thought the band were superb, particularly on the Prologue to Beauty and the Beast and Go The Distance, but the singing didn't really match this quality. You've picked up on it a bit, but the vocal performances on the whole were a bit soulless, which is a problem when doing songs from more 'genre' songs like those from Hercules. Also, the decision to omit any villain songs was, if you'll pardon the pun, criminal.
It was fun in parts, but nowhere near as involving as watching the films themselves. And that's the gospel truth.
Come and see the show choir in a few weeks then. Villain songs, heart and soul guaranteed…
did er…did you just quote the big singing lady off Hercules in your final line? You weren't lying when you said you were obsessed.
did er… did you just get a joke?
…who ARE you?
…who are YOU?
…WHO are you?
It was fun, but everything was taken soo fast that it was insensitive to the meaning behind it. Definitely lacked heart, except the ending which was so fun!
I don't think the problems were the fault of the singers. There were (almost) no bum notes all night, it was simply the matching of voice to song that was the problem.
Catherine Harrison and Ruth Shannon clearly have beautiful head voices (and the former a powerful mix) but those simply weren't suited to the songs they were given. The fact is, most of the songs would have sounded so much better belted (as the incredible Maud Millar demonstrated). To hear Harrison mix her way through I Won't Say I'm in Love was massively disappointing, as flawlessly as she sang it. It was simply that her voice doesn't fit this kind of song.
Whether this is the rotten judgment of the musical director (who must have realised that most of the vocal placement was way off base) or simply that these were the best performers out there, I don't know.
Also, to pick up on Rob's point about heart: Millar and Oskar McCarthy were the only performers who acted their songs at all. The rest simply stood there and sang prettily – it's impossible to make an emotional connection if the acting isn't there.
Wasn't this the point she was making?…
"it sounded as though the female vocalists had been classically trained, and over-zealous vibrato sometimes gave the impression that they were taking it all a little too seriously, and the vocal execution of some songs didn’t gel generically with the comedy of the overall performance. All the soloists are exceedingly talented, but I did occasionally feel that a stronger distinction should be made between West-end style musical and cartoon parody"
Calling Disney a "parody" of musicals is just absurd.
…Disney is not a "parody" of musicals… This production is a parody of Disney… Someone sadly misunderstood…
It's not a parody of Disney, it's a celebration of Disney.
………..
Harrison is fit
I agree – Maud Millar and Oskar McCarthy were incredible and well used, and 'Under the Sea' was great, but other than that there wasn't that much to commend the performances. The reason the show worked is because the content is brilliant and automatically inspires so much affection that unless they were awful and totally screwed it up, they couldn't have got anything but a good reception
"it's impossible to make an emotional connection if the acting isn't there" – Hello? Lieder, anyone? full marks for possibly the most ignorant comment ever posted on these pages.
This is musical theatre. If you can't act, get off the stage.
Tried to read the review, but couldn't get past the reviewer's hair
…Someone needs to get out more
I can't believe the negative comments! I went last night and was absolutely transfixed – and I definitely do not consider myself a die-hard Disney fan. The jokes were funny, the singing spectacular, the band lush… what more could you ask for?
I WANT ONCE UPON A DREAM 2
MAKE IT AN ANNUAL, EASTER TERM TRADITION
-Kiss de girl
-Be a man
-When somebody loved me
-Just can't wait to be king
-various villain songs
There must be enough for another show!
CU Show Choir: ADC Theatre, May 17 & 21.