Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After, the ice-skating musical, will debut for the first time outside of the US on September 10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, running until September 13, but the two hour show — with a brief interval — was shown to the press on Monday afternoon.
The hosts, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, as well as grumpy sidekick Donald Duck and his hiccupping friend Goofy, introduced a range of Disney “talents” to the audience, coming in and out between segments to discuss.
They kicked off with an endearing Pinocchio learning a few lessons, namely: lying is bad (and it makes your nose grow), being who you are is good and apologising for your wrong-doings is the way forward. Then, we were treated to a cameo from Cinderella in the form of the two wicked step-sisters, Anastasia and Drizella, who danced and sang horribly enough to “blow” some lights overhead, with literal sparks bursting from above.
The show then shifts to more detailed storytelling. It featured musical, abridged versions of four Disney classics: The Little Mermaid, Tangled, Brave and last but not least, Beauty and the Beast. In these segments, the characters were clad in elaborate and brightly-coloured costumes as they glided gracefully around the rink, with props sliding onto stage with them — from chairs and easels to bridges and stairs, creating different worlds as necessary.
The cast of dancers, much like the cast of characters in Disney’s films, could’ve benefited from more diversity (Aladdin or Princess Frog might have been nice additions), and a couple of live vocal performances, rather than strictly pre-recorded ones, may have added a bit of zeal, but the four stories chosen provided a refresher of some classic tales.
The Little Mermaid, the first story told, stood out for Sebastian-the-crab’s charisma, its neon-coloured costumes and the host of dancing sea creatures filling the stage from corner-to-corner during Under the Sea, from sea horses and sting rays to dolphins and jelly fish. Mermaid Ariel performing some aerial acrobatics after being turned into a human was also a treat.
Tangled’s characters were the most charming and comedic, appealing to adults just as much as they would to children, and the story ended with some wistful lanterns as well as some nicely synchronised choreography.
Brave stuck closely to its original telling, and since the 2012 film is fresher in our minds than the rest, it seemed to fall a little flat in terms of achieving a nostalgic effect.
The true stand-out of the show was the finale, Beauty and the Beast. It was enchanting, whether we were witnessing Gaston’s inflated ego (and inflated biceps), or the slew of adorable talking-and-singing cutlery who were rooting for Belle and the Beast to find true love.
The props for this segment were especially elaborate, from real fire torches to a massive library mural. As Belle walked through town at the start, a bridge and a book shelf adorned the stage. Side characters, such as a librarian and a baker, milled around in the background, creating an authentic town-like feel. The beast’s castle housed the tale’s single rose, growing out of the corner of the stage. During Be Our Guest, the highlight of the show, a tiered chandelier comes down from the ceiling of the castle, which, paired with two large candleholders in the back, created a majestic image.
