An enchanting, exceptional spectacle
Young and old alike were enthralled by ‘Disney on Ice’, writes Masego Panyane
GLITZ and glamour, song and dance and lots of snow were the order of the day at this weekend’s
Disney On Ice, Joburg edition. Fairytale lovers were spoilt for choice as Disney On Ice: Dream
Big presented Disney’s princesses Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora, Snow White and the Frozen sisters Queen Elsa and Anna, as well as warm-hearted snowman Olaf.
Disney’s all-time favourites Mickey and Minnie Mouse also came to the party, along with their close friend Goofy.
Dozens of children dressed up for the occasion, sporting Elsa or Snow White outfits with crowns, while others donned Minnie’s ears. There were even a few Olaf faces, complete with a carrot for a nose. The excitement shone in their little faces as they flocked into an auditorium that was transformed into a winter night, with flakes of snow falling on to the stage.
The parents and older siblings looked equally enthralled, so it was indeed a family affair.
Tinker Bell waved her magic stick as Disney’s leading ladies, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Belle, discovered a whole new world. The royals sisters, Anna and Elsa, learned that true love is the greatest magic of all, and daring Jasmine joined Snow White, Aurora and Tiana to remind us all to always be strong, kind and fearless.
Little girls and boys sang along to their favourite Disney Tunes, and the highlight of the show was the children calling out to their favourite characters, telling them how much they love them. Enchanted by the entertainment, they cheered, laughed, danced and waved as their favourites skated by on the ice.
The stage was exceptionally beautiful as bright lights danced across the stage and captured the audience’s attention.
The costumes were magnificent and the sets, animals and props dramatic. This was especially so for Cinderella’s grand entrance, which left the audience spellbound as she arrived in a gold encrusted carriage led by two dazzling unicorns.
As the light was dimmed, it was intriguing to witness the princesses outfits glow in the dark, especially Queen Elsa’s immaculate gowns.
The skaters worked their magic, spinning and dazzling on the ice so beautifully, the audience was in awe.
“Before dreaming up this show, we reflected on what makes Disney’s leading ladies so unique. Having three daughters, it didn’t take that long to realise that every princess had one thing in common: each one had a dream and the determination to make it a reality,” said the show organiser Kenneth Feld.
“We wanted to share that inspirational message with our audiences by celebrating the stories of these courageous young women and the friends that helped them along.”
Morgan Bell, who plays the role of the princess Anna from Frozen, said she was thrilled to be in South Africa.
“This is my first time in South Africa and I’m loving the whole experience. It has been really cool to be here and I’m excited to share what we do, and love every day with the audience.”
Jennifer Howie portrays Anastasia, Cinderella’s evil stepsister. She was part of the first production five years ago and she’s excited to be back in the country again.
Asked about the preparation that goes into a show of this magnitude, Howie said: “To get a production like this on the road takes hundreds of people and months of preparation. For the skaters, we do several weeks of rehearsals at the beginning of a tour and then in each city, where we get used to the ice and our feet ready, because every venue is different.
“We have just come from a nine-month US tour and next year, we head to Europe,” she said.
The show runs for 2 hours, with a 15-minute interval. Snacks and toys were on sale at the venue and this must-see show will surely be a hit for the young ones these school holidays. The Joburg leg of the tour runs on till on Sunday, July 1. The next stop is Durban’s ICC Arena from Wednesday July 4 to Sunday July 8, before the show moves to Cape Town from July 11 to 15.