What do you get when you put six princesses in one room to tell the hard truth? You get Disenchanted a hilarious musical comedy featuring some of our favorite fictional princesses. The 90-minute production has been touring the country bringing laughter to theatre lovers. Thank goodness it has finally come to NYC in the off Broadway Theatre at St. Clements on Manhattan’s west side. The small venue allows the audience to be as immersed in the story as the princesses themselves. The show begins with our hostess and arguably the most popular princess in the Disney catalog “Snow White” and her co-hosts “Cinderella” and “Sleeping Beauty”. These women are nothing like the shrinking dainty flowers you would expect, they attack the stage with booming powerful voices and fills the room with music and biting wit. Though the opening number is sung by the trio of princesses it is Snow White (Michelle Knight) who takes the lead and belts out the tune with her amazing voice. Clearly, the leader of the pack this lady rocks hard driving the musical from scene to scene and filling the stage with her commanding presence. Her cohorts are no slouches, they may take the background vocals for the opening but each is provided her own solo and performs flawlessly. The original trio is joined periodically by some other Disney princesses including Mulan, Pocahontas, Belle and Tiana (or the Princess who kissed the frog) Each of the disgruntled Disney divas provides more insight into the perils of happily ever after and the truth behind the tall tale.
The show is not only entertaining it is informative and empowering. Before your visit peruse their website for some insight into the real stories that inspired the Disney white washing. If you are a die-hard mickey tattooed Disney fan you may want to prepare yourself. Old Walt gets a good tongue lashing as these fiery ladies give him the finger both figuratively and literally. One of the most dazzling numbers in the set is performed by “The Princess who kissed the frog” she belts out “Finally” an uptempo number applauding Disney’s first (and only) black princess. Another favorite is “Two Legs” a soulful tune sung by a drunken little mermaid, who resents giving up the seven seas for some guy she thought was cute. Though the characters may be familiar from your childhood this isn’t a show for the kiddies. The jokes, profanity and subject matter may not give them nightmares but will likely bruise their innocence. So grab some grown ups and get out to the theatre and have an adult laugh at some of your childhood favorites. Visit www.disenchantedmusical.com for tickets and show times.