REVIEW: Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
After three long years, Hamilton Theatre Inc. has returned in full force with sold out houses even before opening night (starting with their 64th season opener of the 1980's cult classic turned musical Heathers). The thrill of sold out productions speaks volumes to the cast, crew, band members, volunteers and, of course, audiences who have waited (im)patiently to sit back and be taken away on a musical theatre journey that HTI delivers with dedication and delight.
Disney's Descendants: The Musical is a popular film series turned stage production combining storylines and songs from the first two films and showcases the villainous side of the House of Mouse. The teenage offspring of infamous characters such as Maleficent, Jafar, The Evil Queen Grimhild and Cruella DeVille are granted a royal opportunity to leave the realm their parents have been banished to and see what being good could do for them instead. It's a simple plot but one that speaks to audiences of all ages, especially if, like me, you believed that the villains were more interesting than the heroes anyway.
The set design includes multiple levels, moving pieces, hidden passageways and some truly stunning stained glass windows which feature more beloved characters from Disney classics. HTI is no stranger to utilizing the stage to maximize its fullest potential and this set is no exception. Little touches and "easter eggs" let us know that the Disney spirit is truly present throughout. A huge nod to the efficiency of the stage management team allowing numerous transitions and set changes to flow smoothly. The lighting design, for the most part, is effective, colourful and deepens the magical atmosphere of the story. There are times where the cast is only half lit or unintentionally in shadow which made it difficult to see their facial expressions and reactions. Some extra spot or warm flood lights would resolve this easily.
Costume design is another strong element of this production, especially with so many recognizable characters from Disney's vast anthology. Designers Jenn Helsdon and Krystal Clarke blend iconic and modern, unique pieces to create original, flashy costumes for every character. Very impressive efforts from this design team who had a huge cast and multiple characters to create for.
The cast of Disney's Descendants: The Musical is split into youth and adult members who almost always bring enthusiasm to their roles. Kudos must be given to the production team for finding a diverse range of talent with several cast members being on stage for the first time ever. There's several praiseworthy performances from both HTI veterans and first-timers alike. Taylor-Rae Scott oozes with delicious villainy as Maleficent and is, by far, the standout in terms of vocal prowess and characterization. Scott's signature song, "Evil Like Me" is a campy delight and channels the energy of the film version's star Kristin Chenoweth to near perfection. It is no small feat to hit those high soprano notes and Scott makes it seem effortless. Bravo.
In their first HTI production, Emerie-Rose Scott (playing lead bad girl Mal) and Julian Braithwaite (as Jafar's son Jay) proved themselves time and again. Both had scene stealing moments and truly relished in their characters. Scott's "If Only" solo was a poppy Avril Lavigne-style ballad that suited her vocals well and was her shining moment. Braithwaite demonstrated a real knack for fast paced lyrics and comedy in "Goal" alongside companion Carlos (played with wicked humour by Julia Leslie) and the rest of the ensemble.
As you can likely guess, there is an entire playbill’s worth of cast members to mention. It would be impossible to list every moment I enjoyed. A few more highlights include Mike Jensen's (in several roles) overall comedic timing, Zachary Glardine (Prince Ben)’s adorkable awkwardness, Fairy Godmother's constant sassy demeanour (what a performance by Graden Bourne!), a Snow White-Joan Rivers mashup and an especially lovely moment between best baddies Mal and Evie (played with endless charm by Rachel Kelly) in their poignant duet "Space Between." There are very few moments I found lacking and, if anything, that's the script and not the cast or director's fault. Some characters and plot points are just underdeveloped and despite that, this production ensures everyone on that stage has their moment.
What the majority of these eager newcomers need to truly shine is confidence. It's clear that everyone is well directed, choreographed and staged by the combined efforts of Dustin Jodway and Bree McLean-Roberts but there are several moments where the lack of certainty in their vocals, projection or movements overtakes the scene leaving us feeling those opening night jitters far too frequently. I am certain that with more performances and basking in the audience's loud, continuous applause, the cast will thrive and their characters and voices will excel.
As stated earlier, the entirety of Disney's Descendants: The Musical is now sold out (though at the time of posting this review, there's some very limited tickets available. Highly recommended hopefuls contact the box office to see if you can snag any remaining seats or be put on a waitlist). This speaks to the calibre of performance that HTI and its skilled members continue to bring season after season. It's a wicked good time for Disney and musical theatre lovers alike. Enjoy chillin' like a villain Hamilton, you won't be feeling rotten to the core after seeing this production.
The cast of Disney’s Descendants: The Musical
Featuring (L-R): Emerie-Rose Scott (Mal), Rachel Kelly (Evie), Luis Arrojo (Jafar), Lillian Goobie (Grimhild), Breann Jodway (Cruella), Taylor-Rae Scott (Maleficent), Zachary Giardine (Ben), Graden Bourne (Fairy Godmother), Julia Leslie (Carlos) and Julian Braithwaite (Jay)
Photo Credit: Bree McLean-Roberts and Kreations Photography
