By Jade Goodes
Based on the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name, the show is a sequel of sorts to Disney’s classic films. The stage adaptation combines the more iconic moments from all three Descendants films, so fans of the franchise will be satisfied in getting to see and hear some of their favorite moments from the movies played out on stage.
Photo By Stage 62
Descendants the Musical follows the lives of the children of classic Disney villains and heroes. Prince Ben (son of Belle and The Beast) has decided his first decree as King will be to grant pardon to the VKs (Villain Kids) who have been banished to live on the Isle of The Lost with their infamous parents. The VKs will be given a chance to prove they can be good and should not be blamed for the sins of their parents.
Descendants the Musical plays at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in Carnegie; it’s an older theater with a rare charm and reminds me of a smaller scale Byham Theater.
There is a clear distinction in both set and costumes between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, helping establish and separate both worlds. The set is used resourcefully to transfer between worlds easily. Patty Folmer‘s costume designs are a highlight in this production. While reminiscent of the film, her designs still have their own unique flare.
Photo by Stage 62
The production features a large ensemble who provide some of the show’s strongest moments, such as the numbers “Ways To Be Wicked” and “Break This Down.” I loved looking into the ensemble and pinpointing what Disney character each of them descended from. The Villain parents are a lot of fun; while they have smaller parts in the show, they are a welcomed treat while on stage. Ryan Collins (Chad), Marta Mazzoni (Fairy Godmother), and Anthony Tambellini (Maurice) embrace the fairytale DCOM vibe of the show and provide excellent performances that were appreciated not just by me but by the children in the audience as well. Hannah Bartus makes a wonderful Mal and manages to nail what makes Dove Cameron’s Mal so lovable and fun while being able to add her own quirks and charm to the part to make it her own.
As I’m not in this show’s target demographic, I tried to pay attention to how the children in the audience responded to the production. You could tell when the kids enjoyed themselves, like during the number “Did I Mention,” which seemed to be an audience favorite. The actors who fully embraced and understood this was a children’s theater production and leaned into the fairytale aspect of their characters resonated more with the kids than others did.
I don’t necessarily think children are watching this show for technique or skill; they instead want to see the characters they love sing the songs they love, having a blast while doing it. There were moments where I found myself a little bored and restless, and to then see the children in the audience squirming in their seats validated that certain moments weren’t resonating. Children’s theater shows require high energy and enthusiasm to keep the young audience’s attention and to help the show feel fast-moving and fun. While I think certain actors embrace this in their performances, not all did, so it leaves the show feeling a little flat and stale.
What makes the Descendants movies work is that while the premise is silly and an obvious cash grab, the people involved put everything they had into it and made a project you could tell they loved. I find the Descendants movies to be quirky, cheesy, and charming in the way that only a DCOM can, and I felt that missing in this production.
While this production didn’t tick all the boxes for me, I think kids and families would have an enjoyable enough time watching the show. It might not be as fun as the films, but fans might still enjoy seeing the stage adaptation of the popular franchise. I think Descendants will be an excellent show for future middle school and high schools to perform, and I’d be interested to see what other companies and schools make of it.
Disney’s Descendants The Musical runs at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall through March 13. Tickets can be found at: https://www.purplepass.com/#230337/Stage_62-Disney_Descendants_The_Musical-Andrew_Carnegie_Free_Library_&_Music_Hall-March-11-2022.html
Categories: Reviews
Thank you for such a great review! The performers did an incredible job!