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I saw Disney 100 The Concert starring Strictly dancer at Resorts World Arena – it was a perfect fairytale
As Disney 100 – The Concert reached Birmingham, I was braced for a a whole new world of entertainment. I’ve seen the ice shows, Disneyworld and caught the many theatre shows and movies but surely this would be even more of a lavish spectacle to celebrate its centenary?
For one night only the UK tour stopped off in Birmingham at Resorts World Arena last night (Tuesday, June 6) and the stage was set with a full orchestra. Even Strictly Come Dancing favourite Janette Manrara wasn’t going to miss this after coming out as a loud and proud Disney super-fan.
Aljaž Škorjanec’s wife was on hosting duties in her usual flamboyant, friendly style and impressively running around in heels and ballgowns despite being heavily pregnant. She had the ideal excitement and passion for Disney to be talking the crowd through a century of Mickey, Ariel, Simba, Mirabel, Star Wars, Marvel and many more.
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We’re reminded that once upon a time it started with a mouse – even seeing an original clip of Mickey’s first appearance in 1928 in Steamboat Willie – but it’s gone far beyond that since. Split into themes, the beautifully choreographed show took the audience through dreamers, lovers, adventure and friendship.
Iconic film scenes played out on a giant screen, whilst the music was brought to life by the Hollywood Sound Orchestra. Talented singers well-versed in the Disney classics from performing on stage in London’s West End and Broadway took on lead roles, often bringing a lump to the throat.
Music has been key to Disney’s success, picking up 14 Oscars for songs along the way, but it was clear from this show that it means more than that to everyday people. There’s an emotional attachment to these soundtracks.
When You Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio instantly sends flutters to the stomach as a signature tune for Disney and its many fairytales. It sounds even more emotive when performed live by musicians a few feet away. While Hakuna Matata can’t help but be uplifting and was later the perfect way to end this dreamy show.
Aptly starting off with up-tempo Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast, it heralded the start of an emotional ride as thrilling as any of Disneyland’s rollercoasters. It travelled from Peter Pan to Toy Story and Star Wars, with a singalong to Jungle Book’s Bare Necessities en-route.
This is a slick, high-end production that Disney is so famous for. Don’t expect costumes and big dance numbers as the exceptional singers like Charlie Burn and Bessy Ewa are in ball gowns and not distracting too much from the film footage.
Special effects add some pizazz from plumes of smoke during the impressive Pirates of the Caribbean sequence, dazzling lights for Avengers and Star Wars plus, my favourite, pretty falling leaves during award-winning song Colours of the Wind from Pocahontas.
Fantasia’s clip with Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice didn’t need any effects though. It was a stand out moment for the orchestra to accompany the 1940 cartoon film with Paul Dukas’ sensational classical piece, highlighting the first step of Disney’s venture into films.
Frozen features early on and was greeted with welcome gasps as impressive singer Roberta Valentini makes easy work of Let It Go. Fans of The Lion King, which is coming to Birmingham Hippodrome this Summer, have to wait until the very end for Circle of Life, but it’s well worth the wait.
And a celebration of the musicals Walt Disney created wouldn’t be complete without Mary Poppins. It’s a final spoon full of sugar and nostalgic treat for the largely adult audience of Disney fans, many wearing Mickey ears.
This concert is superb for fans but no doubt works well for the company too as there’s promotions for Disney cruises and other products in the interval. I’m sure it gets a huge boost from this concert as all I wanted to do was rush out and watch these films again.
Disney 100 – The Concert is magical because it cocoons you in the sentiment and joy of all its fairytales and adventures from the past century. It’s a blissful and worthy celebration of what Walt Disney created, but it’s more than that, it’s the closest you can come to feeling ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’.
Disney 100 – The Concert UK tour continues to Cardiff tonight (June 7) and Bournemouth tomorrow, both at 7pm.
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