Disenchanted | Subiaco Arts Centre | Until 19th Oct | ★ ★ ★ ★ 

- Advertisement -

Snow White is joined by her co-hosts Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella for a show that looks into the reality of being a fairytale princess. 

These three classic fairytale princesses break it to us that ‘happily ever after’ is not all its cracked up to be and the life of a fairy godmothers, glass slippers and being kissed while you’re sleeping is not everything a girl wants.

The shows opening number No more Happily Ever After sets the scene for a modern musical that proposes that in an age of feminism and female empowerment, real princesses would not be putting up with most of the stuff thrown at them.

This show which originated off-Broadway and has traveled around the world is a mountain of fun and for the Perth premiere eight hugely talented actors showed off their skills in music and comedy.

Along the way we meet some of the more modern princesses including the princess who kissed a frog, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, Princess Badroulbadour and Mulan. Each shares their story of how flying carpets, life under the sea and talking teapots have drawbacks.

Cassie Skinner is brilliant as Snow White, channelling old school Hollywood sass throughout her role, at time it felt like she’d been possessed by 1930’s actress Helen Broderick.

Skinner shows off her comedy, singing and acting abilities in the show and she delivers a first class performance.

Georgia McGivern bring a mountain of comedy as the ditzy Cinderella, and Imogen Rabbitte is wonderful as Sleeping Beauty who keeps dozing through her cues.

They’re joined by Jess Lally who plays the dual roles of Rapunzel and The Little Mermaid, who is given a trailer trash persona. Andrea Lim is Mulan, who realises why she’s the only princess not to get a prince at the end of her story, Delicia Cooper plays the princess who kisses frogs, Therese Cruise takes on the dual roles of Pocahontas and Princess Badroulbadour, while Sharon Kelly is Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

The show has many highlights, but the most hilarious number is when the cast ponder why their anatomies are so ridiculous and why all princess have massive cleavage. The appropriately named song Big Tits is funny and profound.

Later in the piece Rapunzel highlights that most of the princess were originally German and they highlight that for all the marketing and merchandise around their personas – they don’t see One Red Cent of income.

With a live band, and an enthusiastic attitude this cabaret styled show is funny, fiendishly inappropriate and packed with talented performances.

See Disenchanted at the Subiaco Arts Centre until 19th October. 

Graeme Watson