So — let’s see — if last Sunday was the People’s Choice Awards and this coming Sunday is the Golden Globes … Then we must be right smack dab in the middle of awards ceremony season out west.
Me, personally? I take or leave award shows. But I know that there are a lot of you out there that secretly harbor fantasies of someday attending a star-studded affair like the Academy Awards. Maybe you long to stroll down the red carpet, to have your picture taken by the paparazzi.
Well, if that’s really your fantasy … Then maybe you need more wonder & magic in your life. The Disney Wonder & the Disney Magic, to be exact.
Yeah, the Disney Cruise Line has just the show for all you would-be celebrities out there: “The Golden Mickeys.” Presented once every cruise aboard both of these ships in the Walt Disney Theater, this live stage presentation is really something out of the ordinary. It features music from classic Disney films, singers, dancers, folks in character costumes all working in tandem with projected film. Not to mention that the show also gives its audience a little taste of what it’s really like to be a celebrity.
Here — using some photos that Jeff Lange took of this show during his recent voyage aboard the Disney Wonder — why don’t I try & recreate the whole “Golden Mickeys” experience for you? The fun actually starts out in the theater lobby, as you pass numerous colorful signs …
Photo by Jeff Lange.
Here, you and your family are assaulted by four relatively polite members of the papparazzi. Who snap your photograph as you stroll down the red carpet. Once you reach the end of the carpet, who should be waiting there for you but gossip columnist Rona Rivers? Who’s broadcasting live from the entrance of the theater and has nothing but good things to say about the outfit that you’ve chosen to wear to that evening’s ceremony.
Once you enter the Walt Disney Theater and take your seat, you can watch Rona continue to interview other passengers as they arrive for the event. You won’t miss a single comment that this gossip columnist gushes. Why for? Because Rivers’ comments are being broadcast live into the theater on two huge video screens that flank either side of the stage.
As the houselights come down, it’s finally time for “The Golden Mickeys” to get underway. This faux award ceremony — just like all the real award shows do — begins with an elaborate production number. Where you learn that this show is supposed to honor the Walt Disney Company’s most memorable animated features as well as pay tribute to the man who actually gave the Mouse Factory its start: Walt Disney.
Of course, this being a Disney show and all, things don’t go quite according to plan. With a drum roll, the curtain rises, revealing … an empty spotlight. It seems that the show’s master of ceremonies — who was supposed to be the ship’s captain — has suddenly been called away. Leaving “The Golden Mickeys” with no MC.
Which is how Ensign Benson — the award show’s frazzled stage manager — finds herself shoved out into the spotlight. Filling in for the captain as “The Golden Mickeys” ‘s temporary MC.
But it’s okay. Because Ensign Benson has friends in high places. Mainly Roy E. Disney, the former chairman of Feature Animation at the Walt Disney Company. Talking to the frazzled stage manager from the stage left video screen, Roy (supposedly speaking to the woman via ship-to-shore phone) says that he’s here to help. And — with that — Walt’s nephew introduces the show.
(A brief note here: Obviously, this portion of “The Golden Mickeys” was put together prior to Roy E.’s acrimonious exit from the Walt Disney Company in November of 2003. I’m told that — sometime further on down the line — the Disney Cruise Line as well as Disney Creative Entertainment [I.E. The two arms of the Mouse House who collaborated on TGM] will be making a decision about whether or not this pre-recorded piece of footage should be removed from the show. But — for the time being, anyway — Walt’s nephew is staying. Which — I know — will please a lot of you “Save Disney” fans out there … Anyway …)
“The Golden Mickeys” now officially gets underway with a film montage that cleverly illustrates Walt’s start in the motion picture business. Talking over these brief images from the “Alice” comedies as well as early Mickey Mouse cartoons, Roy E. sets the stage for Walt’s first big triumph. Which was the world’s first technicolor feature length animated film, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
Mind you, Roy E. can’t just say “Here are some musical highlights from ‘Snow White.’ ” This being a Disney stage show and all, you really have to lay on the hocus and the pocus. Which is why Walt’s nephew first summons up the slave of the Magic Mirror. Who — using footage from the original 1937 film — then describes a girl whose “… lips are as red as a rose, hair as dark as ebony.”
(Another brief note: In all of the Disney Cruise Line press releases, “The Golden Mickeys” is described as being ” … the most technologically advanced stage show at sea.” Well, there’s a good reason for that. The way that this stage show seamlessly blends its live performers with footage that’s been culled from classic Disney animated films is nothing short of amazing. Time and again, scenes from these memorable movies are projected onto scrims and/or the back wall of the theater. So that they either re-enforce the emotion of the moment and/or comment on the action on stage. This innovation makes “The Golden Mickeys” the sort of show that you wish the Mouse would do more of … Anywho …)
Getting back to our review now … Eventually, an on-stage scrim clears. And who’s standing on stage but Snow White herself. the littel princess leads six of the show’s singers & dancers through a musical number that features excerpts from “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Whistle While You Work.”
“But where are the seven dwarfs?,” you ask. Well, that’s where the audience comes in. Earlier in the evening, as families were making their way up the red carpet to the Walt Disney Theater, several children were recruited to take part in that night’s presentation of “The Golden Mickeys.” So now here come Snow White & Dopey — leading six little cruise passengers wearing white beards, caps and costumes. Everyone marching in step to “Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho.”
Photo by Jeff Lange.
Yep, it’s a Kodak moment. A spot in the show virtually everyone in the theater ignores that “No flash photography, please!” warning.
Anyway … After the “Snow White” portion of the show is concluded, it’s time for “The Golden Mickeys” ‘s next celebrity presenter. So who’s now supposedly calling in via ship-to-shore phone but Mr. “Home Improvement” himself, Tim Allen. Tim tells Ensign Benson that he’s there to help her introduce the hero portion of the show.
According to Mr. Allen, a hero in a Disney animated film can handle any situation. “Of course, a good utility belt never hurt,” Tim continues.”Unless it’s too tight or too low.”
With that, “The Golden Mickeys” begins its hero medley. First up, it’s Quasimodo singing “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Next (borrowing a page from Cirque de Soleil), it’s Tarzan and five monkeys performing “Son of Man” while twirling high above the stage on ropes. After that, Shang gives Mulan & her friends a martial arts lesson to the tune of “I’ll Make a Man Out of you.”
Photo by Jeff Lange.
Okay. So far we’ve had Disney princesses and heroes … So what should “The Golden Mickeys” do next? Send in the clowns!
To the tune of “Trashing the Camp” (You know? That Phil Collins’percussion piece from “Tarzan”?), Terk the gorilla leads Ensign Benson through a silly slapstick, trashcan-lid-smashing number that seems to have come straight out of “Stomp.” To add to the fun, Stitch suddenly shows up dressed as Elvis and joins in on this comic conga line.
Photo by Jeff Lange.
Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Well, of course, there are some Disney characters who think that “The Golden Mickeys” have been entirely too much fun up until this point. Which is why the villains now take over the stage.
And talk about making an entrance. First Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” appears on the big screen, as giant cloth glow-in-the-dark tentacles reach out into the auditorium and menace the guests seated in the first few rows of the theater. The next thing you know, Cruella de Vil and her miniature Rolls Royce have risen up out of the stage floor. Then the truck of the car opens and out pops Cruella’s boys (I.E. Four male dancers dressed all in spots). Who then join the fashion fiend in a rousing rendition of “Cruella de Vil.”
Photo by Jeff Lange.
And the elaborate production numbers in “The Golden Mickeys” just keep coming and coming. First Disney Legend Angela Lansbury (appearing just as Roy & Tim Allen did. In a pre-recorded sequence that is supposedly coming in live via ship-to-shore phone) introduces the “Friends” sequence in the program. Which is a hoedown featuring the characters from “Toy Story II,” who dance to the tune “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
Next up is the show’s “Love” medley. Which features numbers from “Lady & the Tramp” (“Bella Notte”), “Sleeping Beauty” (“Once Upon a Dream”), “Pocahontas” (“Colors of the Wind”) and “The Lion King” (“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”). With each number featuring sets & costumes that recall the film (or — in the case of “The Lion King” — the Tony Award-winning stage adaptation of the movie).
Photo by Jeff Lange.
The show just continues to build and build. Until finally — at the “Golden Mickeys” finale — when Mick himself finally appears on stage, the audience has no choice but to stand & applaud. They have simply been beaten into submission by almost an hour of solid Disney entertainment. After a brief flash of on-stage pryro and the obligatory shot of confetti & streamers into the auditorium, the audience is then invited to join the show’s cast at “The Golden Mickeys” after-party. Which (depending on the weather) are usually held up on deck.
Of course, some guests (like Jeff) will want to take away more than just a few memories and/or photographs from their “Golden Mickeys” experience. Which was why Mr. Lange was pleased to see that the ship’s on-board shops actually carry copies of the faux statuettes that were featured in this show. Which could be purchased for a mere $24.95 and — just like Jeff did — taken home & proudly displayed as part of your Disneyana collection.
Photo by Jeff Lange
All in all, “The Golden Mickeys” show has made a fine & fun addition to the Disney Cruise Line’s line-up of nightly entertainment. Though this new stage show has only been performed on the Disney Wonder since Labor Day of 2003 (and on the Disney Magic since just last month), it’s already been drawing rave reviews from the ship’s passengers. Which perhaps explains why DCL now usually presents “The Golden Mickeys” on the cruise’s “Formal Night.” As if they were saving the best show for last.
So kudos to DCL show director Joe Calarco and choreographer Karma Camp, the two folks who basically created “The Golden Mickeys.” It’s going to be really hard for these two to top themselves. Though — from what I hear — Joe & Karma are currently giving it a shot.
To explain: Calarco & Camp are already allegedly in rehearsal with a brand-new show for the Disney Cruise Line. One that will commemorate the Disney Magic’s trip to the West Coast to take part in this summer’s “Happiest Celebration on Earth” festivities. When JHM learns more about that show, we’ll be sure to share those details with you here.
Anyway, that’s JHM’s attempt at recreating “The Golden Mickeys.” So, what do you former Disney Cruise Line passengers think? Did we get the tone & the feel of the show right?