Cedar Crest College has staged a clever, funny and ribald romp with “Disenchanted! The Musical,” a
subversive take on what happened to all the fairy tale princesses after the “happily ever after.”
The musical revue is being presented through Sept. 29 at Samuels Theater, 100 College Drive, Allentown.
Don’t expect traditional princesses is this comical parody of the Disney princess brand (definitely not sanctioned by Disney). The musical humorously imagines how the princesses would react today to how they have been portrayed in pop culture.
Mackenzie Lewis is spot-on as a disgruntled and sardonic Snow White, with her blood-red lips and talon-like nails, she is a princess who is not to be messed with. The self-appointed leader of the other princesses, Lewis’ Snow is enjoyably acerbic and bold. Lewis displayshas a very talented voice that gies from Snow’s falsetto warble to a lower register belt with ease.
Angelina Dries is spunky and adorable as an eager Cinderella, a feminist who has trouble forgetting those old princess ways. Her enthusiastic facial expressions and comic timing are fun to watch.
Rounding out the main trio of princesses is a narcoleptic Sleeping Beauty, winningly played by a laconic Ashly Rodriguez. Scuffing around in her bunny slippers, Sleepy manages to provoke laughs with simply a look or a gesture. She also leads the others in a joyous "Perfect," a self-affirming song about how the princesses may not look or be as perfect as they are in the films, but they're still perfect just the way they are.
The musical is set up like a revue rather than a through-line story, as Snow White uses her magic mirror to introduces each princess and her song.
A highlight is an appealing Alyssa Weber as Pocahontas who sings "Honestly," a ballad about the historical inaccuracies in her film, adding she was just a 10-year-old at the time of the story.
Noel Cruz is memorable as Hua Mulan, who sings “Without the Guy,” and triumphantly comes out of the closet as she ironically notes she is the only princess not to get the man.
As Princess Badroulbadour, the princess formerly known as Jasmine, Nehal Mohammed is cooly assertive as she reclaims the character’s literary origins and bemoans her second fiddle status to Aladdin in ”Secondary Princess.”
Kacie Schneck pulls double duties as a hard partying Little Mermaid who is frustrated with her legs and a very Teutonic Rapunzel, who leads the other princesses in complaining that they don’t get royalties for all their merch in "Not Vone Red Cent."
The princesses also take knowing jabs at the sexualization of their characters in "Big Tits" and the impossibly idealized physical image they present, with an exuberant (and slightly disturbing) “All I Wanna Do is Eat.”
Rosemarie Kramer is funny as a straight-jacketed Belle who has lost it after talking to household objects for too long.
Jahniya James is fervent as The Princess Who Kissed The Frog, as she sings about being able to be the first black Disney Princess.
Nate Rosario, Nik Georgievski and Zee Marrero add humor in their support roles, even coming down into the audience during one song to good effect.
Will Morris’ costumes add a lot to the show, especially Snow White’s film-ready ensemble and Badroulbadour’s very clever flying carpet.
Director JoAnn Wilchek Basist keeps the action brisk and tight. Rebecca Pieper’s music direction is adept and Joanellyn Schubert’s choreography is enjoyable.
Pieper also leads the talented on-stage band, which includes George Hrab, Tom Mondschein and Patricia O’Connell.
The production contains adult language and content and is not intended for young children.
Performances are 7 p.m. Sept. 26, 27 and 28; and 2 p.m. Sept. 29.
Tickets are$20 for adults; $10 for seniors and $5 for students.
For information, call 610-740-3780, or go to www.cedarcrest.edu/arts-news-events/performing-arts/.