Disenchanted! The Hit Musical – Pleasance ★★★

Some musicals arrive at the Fringe as artistic experiments. Others arrive looking as though they already know exactly where the merchandise stand should go. Disenchanted! falls firmly into the latter category. Its commercial ambitions are obvious from the outset, taking a familiar collection of fairy-tale princesses, turning them loose on their own narratives and inviting them to settle a few scores with the stories that made them famous. Having enjoyed success Off-Broadway and internationally, this UK premiere arrives with confidence, polish and a clear sense of destination. In many ways, it feels further along its journey than Bliss. The structure is tighter, the comic voice more assured and the production has a much clearer understanding of the audience it wants to entertain. Cinderella is tired of being remembered for housework and footwear, Snow White is weary of her reputation, and a revolving collection of princesses step forward to reclaim stories they feel have been hijacked…

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