Dazzling effects and massive sets are the highlight of Walt Disney's World On Ice's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Thanks to video, many, if not all, the people sitting in the audience have seen Disney's first animated movie. But the live show brought new angles and refreshing twists to Snow White's story.Instead of starting off with the princess in the courtyard scrubbing the cobblestones, the live performance began in a magical library. Mickey Mouse - the evening's narrator - was joined by other special guests such as Donald Duck, Goofy and Belle as they sang and skated to a prelude number, "Reading Is Fun."
Other guests (Mowgli, Ariel, Aladdin and Jasmine, Rafiki and Simba, among many others) appeared from the turning cover of a huge book and took their time in the spotlight as the music continued. Then after a hush, Mickey began telling the enchanting and romantic tale of "Snow White."
Two-time Canadian National Champion Karen Preston was perfect as the ebony-haired princess. Her petite stature and fair features brought the animated character to life as she skated, sang and waved to the audience.
Favorite songs such as "With a Smile and a Song," "I'm Wishing" and "Whistle While You Work" were a few familiar highlights of the role. However, some of the songs were placed in a different sequence than they are on film. Though this will come as a surprise to some, it gave life to scenes that would have otherwise dragged a little.
Speaking of the new sequences, the prince (skated by Serguei Tartykov) actually converses with Snow White at the wishing well. If you remember, she ran away and he serenaded her. But in the live show, he even inserts a new song, "You Can Never Outfox the Fox," before hitting the notes in "One Song."
Former Kiev Ice Ballet member Elena Koteneva was a magnificent queen and Elaine Maddren, National Skating Association bronze medalist took on the queen's wicked alter ego, the old peddler woman.
The most eloquent skating occurred during the queen's transformation. Serguei Boroda and Tatiana Tropina, formerly of the Moscow Ice Ballet, proved the visual pas de deux as the queen mixed her potions. Anti-gravity lifts, spins and leg swings had the audience members on the edge of their seats, squealing with delight.
As always, the dwarfs - Happy, Doc, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful and especially Dopey - provided the comedy as they skated, danced and frolicked about. And when the whole company hits the ice as wooden pipes from the pipe organ, the visual cycles and spins are wonderful.
But the skating wasn't as breathtaking as the sets. The queen's palace and dungeon, the talking magic mirror (which circled the ice as the queen spoke with the slave inside), the dwarfs' cottage and the stoney mountainside were exquisitely displayed through various lighting and firework effects.
A word of caution: Though this is a fine work of family entertainment, there are some very scary scenes. Snow White gets chased through the forest; the queen transforms herself into the old peddler as dark faceless demons swarm the ice and the thunderous climax will undoubtedly cause a few youngsters to cry.