Theater Review: 'Disenchanted' at the Golden Apple

Finally, years after the ERA has been passed, the women of Disney have revolted! “Disenchanted! Bitches of the Kingdom” is about all those storybook princesses co-opted by animated movies, theme parks and pop culture and plopped into dreary lives of enforced “happily ever after.”

Under the direction of Kyle Ennis Turoff, the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre show bounces along like happy little blue birds on smack, and the eclectic choreography runs from doo wop to hip-hop. The music is highly enjoyable, and the lyrics are wonderfully clever and witty. The new musical comedy’s book, music and lyrics were written by Dennis C. Giacino, with additional lyrics by Fiely A. Matias.

During the opening act, Jennifer Baker, as Snow White, Mari Bryan, as Cinderella, and Alex Torres, as Sleeping Beauty, threaten everything from offing themselves to ripping Steamboat Willy a new one in their determination to liberate themselves from body wraps, pedicures and facials.

The show also stars Dianne Dawson, as Belle, Jenn Abreu, as Mulan, Aileen Suseck, as Pocahontas, Hilary Kraus, as the Little Mermaid, Helen Holliday, as Rapunzel, and Ariel Blue, as the Frog Princess. The casting is everything for which you could ask. Roberta MacDonald absolutely slays the audience in her walk-on roles as three secondary princesses.

Nicely accompanied by Michael Sebastian on the piano, the score features one knockout, well-written song after the other. For example, Beauty complains of going from promising French lit scholar to promising to pick up the Beast’s poop.

The Little Mermaid sings with fish puppets and complains of having to shave her legs and getting blisters from high heels. Cinderella charmingly moans, “All I want to do is eat,” and Snow White’s great singing voice spouts out laughable obscenities.

The play is fresh from sweeping up awards at the 2011 Orlando International Fringe Festival, where it enjoyed sold-out houses and rave reviews. Its run was extended numerous times, which should be the case in Sarasota, too.

IF YOU GO
“Disenchanted! The Bitches of the Kingdom” runs through Oct. 23, at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre.
For information, call 366-5454 or visit www.thegoldenapple.com.

The theater is located at 25 N. Pineapple Ave. Show nights are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturday, along with a Sunday twilight show.