DISENCHANTED! presented The Carnegie through April 9. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.
Blair Godshall as Sleeping Beauty, Sara Kenny as Snow White & Allison Evans as Cinderella. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography
Closing out their theater season, The Carnegie offers a big and bawdy cabaret show featuring some of your favorite princesses from the House of Mouse.
The show is well-cast. All the performers have lovely singing voices, a Disney trademark, in addition to strong comic timing that make the bits work.
Leading the ladies, whether they want her to or not, is Sara Kenny as Snow White. Kenny has always been a comedy gem, but this role gives her comic chops a bit more bite and the result is extremely funny.
As Cinderella, Allison Evans is great fun as that too perfect, too perky friend. Blair Godshall is a treat as the physically awkward, slightly-narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty. Brittany Hayes has some great vocal chops; it’s just a shame that her Princess Who Kissed the Frog doesn’t hit the stage until Act II.
Mikayla Renfrow shows great versatility as Mulan, Pocahontas and Jasmine. I would have enjoyed seeing more physicality in the three characters to help define them individually.
Gabriella Francis as the Little Mermaid. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography
Gabriella Francis is hilarious as a trapped Belle and a wrong-side-of-the-tracks Little Mermaid. The Rapunzel number, “Not V’One Red Cent,” didn’t quite gel for me. This might be the one number where the choreography didn’t quite fit. Based on Rapunzel’s costume, maybe something more “Blond Ambition” or “Chicago”-esque. 🙂
During several songs, comic bits interrupt the musical numbers. The issue I saw was that the energy level from the song drops during the comedy, so when the cast returns to the finish out the number it ends a bit flat comparatively.
Sara Kenny as Snow White, Brittany Hayes as the Princess Who Kiss the Frog, Allison Evans as Cinderella, Gabriella Francis as the Little Mermaid & Mikayla Renfrow as Hua Mulan. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography
For the most part, I really enjoyed the costumes for the production, designed by Cheyenne Hamberg. Favorites include Snow White, The Little Mermaid, and Princess Badroulbador (aka Jasmine). I always loved Cinderella’s replacement footwear. The only costume that seems to miss its target is the one designed for the Princess Who Kissed the Frog.
Unfortunately sound issues continue to trouble productions at The Carnegie. Volume and balance was great, but the problem usually reared its head during the group numbers. As my guest for the performance said, “I can hear them; I just can’t understand them.” I wish I had some insight to help address this issue.
Allison Evans as Cinderella, Sara Kenny as Snow White & Blair Godshall as Sleeping Beauty. Photo by Mikki Schaffner Photography
The set design by Tyler Gabbard is resplendent in purple and pink and just screams Disney. The stage curtain, lighted proscenium, footlights, and crown over the stage well defined the space and showed great attention to detail.
Overall, a funny and entertaining night out for adults. Find out what happens when princesses stop being polite – and start getting real…
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.
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