Happily Ever After: fun romp

If you’re looking for a fun romp, that doesn’t make you think too much, or at all, with a talented cast, a not-bad musical score, good voices, then Happily Ever After is the show for you.   

Four Disneyfied princesses – Beauty, Cinderella, Mermaid, and “Snow”, struggle not to cry (it’s not allowed) when confronted with the realities of Happily Ever After Land.  Snow’s prince has plunged to his death merely a week after they rode off the fairytale pages, Beauty is finding a certain attribute of her Beast larger than she could have imagined, and Cinderella has a baby (enough said).  Mermaid doesn’t really have a story, but, wow, Melissa Heagy must be noted for her truly excellent performance of this character.  There are great moments in this piece.  For instance, Snow’s attempted seduction of Mermaid when following a step-by-step manual with a particular formula for life improvement, is hysterical.  

That said, if you’re hoping for a story that goes somewhere, or one with deep meaning, or any meaning, perhaps you should go elsewhere.  No insight not already gleaned from the title ever arises.  The scenes overplay the quite obvious theme.  Final resolutions of various stories are imposed, bizarrely, to ensure the princesses go on to enjoy life, happily ever after.

Happily Ever After is part of this year's Vancouver Fringe. For more information go here.