Tight as! Quick and quirky! This lively parody romps through a wide assortment of well-known Disney classics, tackling them with brilliance. It’s the highlight of Fringe this year, confronting and defying negative, sexist, and inappropriate messages from childhood fairy tales, with a more realistic and healthier lens. Inclusive and daring; it explores familiar one-dimensional limited stereotypes through satirical humour, opening minds. It is truly funny! The humour is smart and dry with some slapstick.
It cleverly confronts taboo topics around sexuality and identity head on, and although I consider myself broad-minded, and love any excuse to celebrate the vulva, I found myself challenged with the celebration of menstruation in a hilarious scene with Pocahontas. Not for the faint-hearted, it was eye-opening, having the audience in stitches.
Nine extremely talented entertainers vibrantly filled the stage with a rainbow burst of colour and life and a fast pace that did not let up. Each performer shone as an individual and worked together seamlessly as a troupe. It flowed. Right from the opening number ‘Be My Guest”, Gaston’s stunning voice captured us with their range and personality. Clever jokes were skillfully interwoven into the songs, costumes, and dialogue, it was always on point and audience-centric.
Owen Merriman as the Hairy Godmother was the perfect modern fairy godmother with an adorable wiggle and giggle. A wise mentor who occasionally got things wrong and had everything you could possibly need stored up their skirt. It just kept on coming and the audience loved it. The costumes and makeup were incredible, the Hairy Godmother’s wig alone needing its own billing. The show was gloriously interactive and totally engaging. It left me thinking about its ideas long after the show. At its heart is a positive overall message of love, equality and acceptance and the ending ties it all together beautifully. You will leave feeling uplifted, hopeful, and loved. You may even leave thinking about trying something new. Be curious! “If the shoe fits”.