Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical is now on Disney+. This story of two sisters who discover the power of love comes originally from Walt Disney Animation Studios and then made its debut on stage. For this pro-shot recording of Frozen, the stage was in London. Specifically, it was filmed earlier this year at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. This production stars Samantha Barks as Elsa, Laura Dawkes as Anna, Jammy Kasongo as Kristoff, Craig Gallivan as Olaf, Oliver Ormson as Hans, Richard Frame as the conniving Duke of Weselton, and Mikayla Jade brings Sven to life.
The production is just shy of two hours long. It is packed with music, featuring an additional 12 songs not included in the original animated feature. Frozen moves along at a steady pace. It isn’t too fast, and it doesn’t drag either. This allows for emotional moments that evoke a strong response from the viewer, but also prevents them from dwelling on it too much. There are also plenty of humorous moments that help add to the variety of emotions that are brought forward during the story.
Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical basically follows the overall story that is told in the original animated version of Frozen. However, there are a few changes. These are quite a lot of fun and do add to the story. There are also some musical nods that happen throughout the show that add depth as well. The result of the changes and the nods is that there are different things to look for throughout the musical. It also means that different ages and interests will be entertained in different ways while watching this.
The acting and singing in Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical are solid. Without paying too close attention, I only caught one note that wasn’t the strongest from a singer. For the most part, it is musically very solid. The acting is fun to watch, as well as the cast brings their takes on fairly well-known characters. The result is something that is familiar, yet different. This is another case where extra interest is added by some of the changes.
The production itself is fantastic. The set is beautiful. There is a digital screen in the background that brings Arendelle even more to life than just lights or simple projections. The result is a viewing experience that brings the stage to life. The costuming should also get a hat tip as it really was impressive throughout the show. Not only are the costumes beautiful, but the changes are impressive as well. This is particularly true at one point that must be seen to really appreciate.
The pro-shot was fairly well done. It isn’t the best pro-shot that has ever been captured, but it still does a good job. There are moments where it seems like the team capturing the production didn’t have their settings quite right on the cameras. The result is that there were a few times that the lighting on the faces of the performers seemed over- or underexposed, rather than consistent throughout the film. This is a small quibble, but also after pro-shots like Newsies and Hamilton, there is an expectation for greatness.
Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical is definitely worth watching, especially if it isn’t nearby to see in person. The musical itself is very enjoyable to watch. Getting to see it from the comfort of home is a bonus. While nothing will ever replace the live theatrical experience, this is a very enjoyable way to watch a musical that may be even better than the original animated feature it is based on. I definitely take my hat off to this one. Go and watch it on Disney+!
