Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy
Produced by: Feld Entertainment
Where: Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate
Until: Sunday. Cape Town at the CTICC: July 6 to 10
A trip to Disneyland holds pride of place on many a bucket list. It’s easy to fathom why.
We’ve grown up with Walt Disney’s creations, delighted by their crazy antics and a world where adult rules could never quite contain an imagination running amok.
To look at the world through the eyes of a child is an invitation to wonder.
This school holiday, a taste of the Disney magic comes to our shores in the form of Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy. Sampling the flavour of some of the most popular cartoon creations of recent years, this ice spectacle gives little fans a sugary dose of their favourite characters with a splash of skating artistry.
First up is a parade of vehicles from the Cars series, with red racing hero Lightning McQueen making a pumped-up appearance, sliding around the ice as he, Mator and the gang attempt to get Mickey Mouse’s jalopy started.
The cars were super-animated, blinking their eyes and flashing their lights. Though the constraints of the ice rink meant they couldn’t really build up a head of steam, they still looked as sleek and cool in real life as they do on screen.
It certainly got a group of boys seated behind me going, but once the cars hit the road, Disney on Ice really took flight with vignettes from The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell – to the delight of possibly every little girl in attendance.
The Little Mermaid, in particular, was a celebration of colour and undersea fantasy, not to mention some of the most memorable music ever to come out of the Disney franchise. And Tinker Bell? Well, show me a little princess who can resist the lure of fairies, their sparkling dresses and a sprinkling of magic dust.
The second act was dedicated entirely to the last Toy Story movie, with the little ones keenly anticipating the adventures of the robotic Buzz Lightyear and cowboy Woody.
All the stars from that hugely successful film made an appearance – even the slinky dog, which must have been quite a feat for the skater playing that particular role.
By the time I eventually made it to Disneyland, a world-weary cynicism made it almost impossible to get into the swing of things. For days, that It’s A Small World After All song gnawed through my brain. For a long time, it was all I could remember about what should have been an amazing experience.
To see some of the children who witnessed the opening performance of Disney on Ice was a reminder of what I had missed. They craned their necks to get a closer lock on the action, often so entranced that they simply neglected to applaud. They were spellbound. Wouldn’t it be marvellous to tap into that innocence once more?
• Ticket prices range from R150 to R300 at Computicket. Parents should note that there is enough merchandise on sale to make any kid go gaga.