Presented by
Disney Tours and TEG Dainty
Llewellyn
Hall, Canberra. 7th October 2023.
Reviewed by
BILL STEPHENS.
Although
“Disney Princess – The Concert” was promoted as a school holiday show suitable
for audiences from six upwards, this superbly produced concert also provided
the enticing opportunity for musical theatre enthusiasts to relish the
performances of several contemporary Broadway leading ladies in Steffanie
Leigh, Storm Lever and Krysta Rodriguez; and Adam J. Levy, a leading man with
both West End and Broadway credentials.
There was
also the added enticement of Australia’s very first Disney princess, Rachael
Beck, who created Belle, opposite Hugh Jackman and Michael Cormick in the
original Australian production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.
The show was
tightly directed, choreographed and presented with Broadway quality sound and
lighting effects. Each of the four leading ladies appeared as themselves,
rather than costumed as Disney characters. Each wore individually designed ball-gowns,
different for each half. They performed in front of a huge LED screen showing animated
visuals of the Disney characters which inspired the Broadway shows, performing
the same songs.
This clever
device provided context for the younger audience members, while allowing the
performers the freedom to bring their own interpretations to more than 30 songs
featured in Disney films.
The concert
commenced with a choreographed number performed by the entire cast, followed by
a series of solos and duets often backed by harmonies sung by fellow cast
members performing as back-up singers.
 |
| Stephanie Leigh |
Steffanie Leigh, who played Mary Poppins on Broadway for three years until it closed, performed the first of many solos; a soaring version of “When Will My Life Begin” a song written by Alan Menken for “Tangled”. Later she performed a thrilling medley of songs written by the Sherman Brothers for “Mary Poppins” her pure, sweet soprano immediately confirming how practically perfect she would have been in this role.
Krysta Rodriguez
Highlights among
the songs performed by Krysta Rodriguez, whose recent roles included Sally
Bowles in “Cabaret”, Anita in “West Side Story” in the Kennedy Centre and
leading roles in television productions “Smash” and “Halston”, were a stunning version of “Journey To The
Past” from the Ahrens/ Flaherty musical “Anastasia”; and a clever staging of “I Can Show You The World”
from “Aladdin” for which she was joined by Adam J. Levey fresh from his leading
role in the Broadway production of “Moulin
Rouge”.
 |
| Storm Levy |
Having made
her Broadway debut in “The Donna Summer Musical” and even more recently completing
her run as Anne Boleyn in “Six”, Storm Lever showed her versatility in songs
from “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid”, but it was her sassy song and
dance version of Randy Newman’s “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog”
that had the audience in raptures.
 |
| Rachael Beck |
Ever
youthful Rachael Beck effortlessly demonstrated why she remains one of
Australia’s most admired musical theatre stars, with her hilarious antics during
“Mother Knows Best” from “Tangled”, a duet she performed with Steffanie Leigh after
confiding that it was her two daughters, now 16 and 14, who inspired her
interpretation of this song. Later during the program she charmed with her rendition
of songs from “Beauty and the Beast” for which she was joined by the other
soloists.
 |
| Benjamin Rauhala |
The entire
performance was conducted by Musical Director, Benjamin Rauhala, from an on-stage
electronic baby-grand piano, augmented by lush pre-recorded orchestral sound. Rauhala, one of Broadway’s most sought after
music arrangers - he did the musical arrangements for Academy Award Winner,
Adriana DeBose’s opening numbers for the 2022 Tony Awards and the 2023 BAFTA
Film Awards, and was named “Best Musical Director” at the 2020 Broadway World
Cabaret Awards - introduced himself as the Fairy God-fairy, to perform
presenter duties and add his voice to the harmonies when required.
 |
| Adam J. Levy |
Finally
though it was the full cast version of “Let It Go”, the hit song from “Frozen”,
which brought the show to a rapturous conclusion, and while the audience spontaneously
sang along, a shower of flitter-flutter signalled the ending of a truly
memorable performance.
Images provided.
This review also published in AUSTRALIAN ARTS REVIEW. www.artsreview.com.au