Melbourne Reviews

Disney on Ice is standard July school holiday fare in Melbourne. Its content and quality remain fairly consistent from year to year and it still manages to bring in enthusiastic kids by the thousands.

As expected, this year’s Princesses and Heroes draws from a range of familiar Disney classics for its song and dance highlights. Aladdin, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and even Rapunzel all get a whirl in a choppy collection of excerpts and vignettes. Mickey and Minnie Mouse make the obligatory guest appearance as emcees, aided by Tinkerbell who ushers in much of the action with her sparkly wand.

The most captivating sections are the lively group numbers where the large ensemble of skaters create the colourful schools of fish in “Under the Sea” and chorus lines of dancing cutlery in “Be Our Guest” (choreography by Cindy Stuart). A huge dragon and some flashy pyrotechnics bring a sense of occasion to the Sleeping Beauty section.

Choreographically, the skill level of the skating is generally high, although not always as tight as it could be. The various duets each showcase a handful of special lifts and tricks and the staging overall maximizes the large ice floor so that no seat in the huge arena misses out.

As always, detailed costumes (designed by Ilona Somogyi) don’t disappoint and the versatility of the set (designed by Robert Little) allows for quick changes of locale and mood.


Disney on Ice presents
Princesses & Heroes

Venue: Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Dates: 4 – 8 July 2013
Tickets: $74.50  – $25.50
Bookings: www.disneyonice.com.au