(seen at the performance on 4th June 2023)
“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it all started with a mouse.” So said Walt Disney in a television interview on 27th October 1954. Having founded “The Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio” in 1923, which in turn became arguably the most successful entertainment company in history, “The Walt Disney Company” fans gathered at the O2 Arena to celebrate 100 years of Disney history in style. And the monkey does mean style.
The Hollywood Sound Orchestra and Band under Wilhelm Keitel occupied the enormous O2 main stage. A vast movie screen above to play the appropriate feature movie extracts as required, and nine featured performers plus a well-choreographed ensemble to sing and dance their way through 2 and three-quarter hours of the very, very best of the magic.
Opening with Walt Disney’s quote and (sadly only a brief instrumental of) Disney’s theme song “When You Wish Upon A Star,” a screen montage of special moments from “Steamboat Willie” (not Mickey’s first film - that was “Plane Crazy”) via “Alice In Wonderland” to “Aladdin” followed.
A trio of singers and the dance ensemble welcomed us with “Be Our Guest” (Beauty and The Beast), setting the pattern for the key film extract playing behind the show and the stage used for inventive routines.
Our host for the evening, Janette Manrara (hosts, cleans and pregnant, she confided, Snow White style, later on) took a quick poll of the audience’s favourites – “Frozen” getting the biggest applause - and admitted to being a huge “Baloo” fan.
Georgina Hagen then kicked off the show proper with “Second Star to the right” (Peter Pan) dissolving into Charlie Burn’s “A Dream is a Wish your heart makes” (Cinderella). Soft, expressive and looking the part in a pale blue off-the-shoulders gown.
Earl Carpenter’s first solo “Go the distance” had us believing his yearning underlying strength as Hurcules.
Manrara skilfully led the jump from there to “The princess and the frog” with Bessy Ewa’s fabulous jazz style swinging “Almost there.”
From the other direction, Cleve September as Quasimodo from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” gave us “Out There” as he sought to start what Ewa’s character was already trying to finish.
The first truly big moment had the audience hooked at the opening note as Roberta Valentini produced “Let It Go” (Frozen). Her own interpretation, minus the Menzel belt but with dry ice swirling like her thoughts, and just as cold as she tried to be - deceiving only her own heart.
Sensibly, the orchestra followed unaccompanied as the hall fell silent under the spell of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (Fantasia). Matching perfectly the images as if it were the film soundtrack, a true highlight captivating even the youngest watching with a live firework ending.
Pausing for a light giggle from a few bars of acknowledged ‘ear-worm’ “It’s A Small World” (dangerous, very dangerous!) our host handed us over to Earl Carpenter and Roberta Valentini for “You’ll be in my heart” (Tarzan) with moving ape family around the young boy.
The start of a sequence about love (all say ‘Aaahhhh’ on command), romantic “A whole new world” (Aladdin) had Cleve September and Charlie Burn on notes – her high voice suiting the vocals.
Back in jazz style, Bessy Ewa gave the title song from “Beauty and The Beast” the perfect rendering in an arrangement similar to the movie’s closing title sequence.
Rounding off the first act, Cleve September took us to Mexico for Encanto’s “Dos Oruguitas” before the ensemble admitted “We don’t talk about Bruno.”
The second half opened acknowledging Disney’s acquisition of the “Star Wars” franchise. The still thrilling “Imperial March” with film sequences holding their own with the modern day led into host Janette Manrara brandishing a rather good light sabre just for the fun of it. Composer John Williams is 91 this year - nearly as old as the company, amazing.
Taking up the theme of “adventure” Bessie Ewa once more delighted as Moana's “Tulou Tagaloa” led into her wondering “How far I’ll go” (on this evidence, a long way) before the entire ensemble joined the search in “We Know the Way.”
More orchestral joy on the huge screen with a tribute to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” neatly acknowledging the classic theme park ride with the film spin-off.
An audible gasp from the monkey had the charming pair of young ladies unlucky enough to be seated next to it grinning (and agreeing) as “Colours of the Wind” soared in the hands of Bessy Ewa. A golden moment.
Recognising the massive contribution of Menken and Ashman, Roberta Valentini gave us “Part of your world” before Carpenter was back for “Poor unfortunate souls” in a “The Little Mermaid” sequence - a hit with the mer crowd.
A final film acknowledgement of the “Marvel” franchise with orchestral accompaniment of “Marvel Portals” on the big screen before the show moved into its final and best section.
Ten thousand people singing along to “Bare Necessities” (lyrics on the screen, monkey adding “you eat ants” and sharing an hilarious laugh with the reply “I do sometimes actually” from aforementioned seat victim) is special and uniting.
Appropriate that our compere launched into “You’ve got a friend in me” (Toy Story) with the entire team joining in and including the orchestra.
Friendships included a “friend cam” and the amusing sight of two young Japanese ladies taking a selfie as they realised they were up on screen.
Further japes as red-capped Earl Carpenter, Cleve September and Tobias Joch go all “boy band” (and the girls go goofy over them – the “N’ice Guys, we don’t write the script) for “Lost in the Woods” (Frozen 2). “We Love You London” they shouted – and we love you too.
Phone lights on for “How does a moment last forever” (Beauty and the Beast – live action) from Charlie Burn, another chance for her extraordinary voice to shine.
With the fun fact that John Bon Jovi inspired Simba’s mane (again, we don’t write the script) the finale “The Lion King” suite had Ewa’s perfect “Circle of Life” assembling all on the stage. The monkey envied the African-print waistcoats on the gents, it has to admit.
Fireworks and the audience split into three for a rousing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (Mary Poppins) before the company left us feeling the real meaning of “Hakuna Matata” (The Lion King). Indeed light with no worries after this evening of top quality entertainment.
Like a Disney theme park, not only did the company manage to pull off an event so slick the monkey didn’t notice the “hidden Mickey” until helpful seat-victims pointed it out (above the audience video screens); but most important they came up with an event that felt uniquely special and connected on different levels with every age present in the audience.
As a celebration of how a mouse can alter the course of popular culture, this cannot be bettered.
The global tour is continuing, do try not to miss it.
5 stars, standing ovation.