Displaying items by tag: Vanessa Leuck

The Princess Complex: Little girls grow up with fairy tales about princesses who are rescued from some terrible fate by a dashing prince, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after. These little girls may dress up as princesses, replay their favorite scene and dream of the day their prince will come. This all leads to the Princess Complex, a cultural enforced delusion of reality but in Disenchanted, the well-known Disney princesses that created these false expectations of life and love tell it like it really is, shattering the happily ever after ideal once and for all.

Disenchanted is a cabaret style variety show featuring familiar characters such as Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, who team up to MC the show, shedding light on the reality of princess-hood. Along with their friends, Belle, Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, and others they challenge the many biases seen in traditional Disney princesses – they are mostly white, often culturally inappropriate, dependent on a man to save them and usually quite well endowed! The style of the show allows for direct engagement with the audience and even a little audience participation in the song calling out the extreme amount of commercialism associated with these beloved Disney fairy tales.

The cast was fantastic overall, bringing some unexpected versions of these household princesses to life with amazing voices and perfect comic timing. Merritt Crews plays the role of Snow White, the primary MC for the evenings shows. She flows between the high sing-songy voice expected of snow white and a gritty and powerful voice that belts some hysterical lyrics. Madison Hayes-Crook plays Cinderella who is a perfect mix of ditsy blond and exceptionally socially aware woman. Miriam Drysdale and Ann Paula Bautista take on three roles each covering The Little Mermaid, Belle, Rapunzel (Drysdale) and Mulan, Pocahontas, and Baldroulbadour (Bautista). They effortlessly move from character to character and back again. Uche Ama, as the princess who kissed the frog, and Danielle Richards, as Sleeping Beauty round out this phenomenal cast.

The costumes were creative and unique, capturing the spirit of the princesses everyone knows and loves but with a spunky and sassy twist. Designed by Vanessa Leuck and covered in sparkles, the costumes really added pizazz to the intimate show.  The Broadway Playhouse is a smaller theater allowing the audience to feel close to the performance and the simple yet elegant set design, by Gentry Akens, further enhances the cozy atmosphere. 

With song after song, joke after joke, Disenchanted will keep you laughing for the full hour and a half production. Book, music and lyrics by Dennis T Giancino, address every questionable aspect of the cherished Disney princesses including the fact that the real Pocahontas was actually a 10 year old girl who would not even dream of kissing John Smith unlike the mini skirt clad 20 year old pin up vixen the movie version, and questioning the mental state of a French book worm with an oddly American accent who thinks it is normal to talk to appliances. 

This show will forever transform the way you watch Disney movies and will remind you that life is not about perfect waistlines, dashing princes and happily ever after. It is packed full with so many subtle details that you will find yourself laughing for days after the show.

Disenchanted is playing at the Broadway Playhouse through June 5th. Get your tickets now for this unique and creative show.