Disney Jr. Live on Tour: Let’s Play! Review
Written by Jenna for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Disney Jr. Live On Tour: Let’s Play – A fun-packed way to introduce your little one to a live stage show!
We were invited to the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre in London for Disney’s new UK tour based on its popular Disney Jr. channel shows. As you would expect from a Disney production, this is a slick, exciting and energetic live show with plenty of interactive fun, songs and storytelling. With performances at 11am, 2pm, and 5pm, each 90-minute adventure is packed with music, dancing, and some of your child’s favourite characters. If your little ones love Disney, this is the perfect way to experience the magic without the need for an expensive trip to the parks. It is also an opportunity to introduce younger children to the theatre, whilst guaranteeing that they will not get bored!
The show is hosted by the hugely energetic DJ, who is on stage throughout dancing and singing along with the characters whilst interacting with the children and parents throughout. I wish I knew the performer’s name to mention her as she was the perfect choice for the role, with her effortless charisma, boundless energy and infectious smile. The premise of the show is that Mickey and his pals are getting ready for a special playdate at the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and we are all invited, so we have to get everything ready. Those familiar with this show will recognise the call ‘Oh Toodles!’ to access the ‘Mouseketools’ needed along the way, helping to develop children’s problem-solving skills. Preparation for the playdate includes learning how to sing with Ariel (in her cartoon series incarnation), a dance lesson with Rolly and Bingo from Puppy Dog Pals, playing hide and seek with Ginny and Bitsy from Super Kitties and blowing up giant balloons with Mickey & Minnie. The balloons are then thrown into the audience as the little ones squealed in delight (and the adults seemed to have even more fun volleying them back up!).
Just as everything looks set for the playdate, some mysterious weather patterns emerge and green ‘snow’ starts falling on the audience. It is up to Spidey, Miles Morales and Ghost Spider (from Marvel’s Team Spidey and his Amazing friends) to find out who is behind this mystery and save the playdate. For my daughter and I, this was our favourite part of the show, as we watched the amazing acrobatic displays from Spidey and friends on a giant trampoline on the stage. Finally the culprit gets captured, and the playdate can resume! My only complaint was that the build up to the playdate is much more exciting than the event itself, and I felt that the climax of the show could have been a little more impressive to end on a high.
While Disney Jr is aimed at pre-school children, older kids (and grown up kids!) can still have an amazing time singing and dancing along. My 7-year-old daughter loved joining in with the dance moves, clapping to the music, balloon throwing, joining the Mexican waves and catching the falling ‘snow’, so I think the appeal stretches beyond the target audience. It was actually heart-warming to peek behind us to see the look of wonder on the faces of the little ones in the audience, hear them calling out to their favourite characters and interacting with DJ. The children also have the freedom of standing up in their seats and even venturing to the front of the auditorium to get a high-five from Mickey & co! I definitely enjoyed the spectacle of the show and found myself swept up in the fun, and it was clear from those around me that other parents did too. The show is full of high-energy performances, audience participation, catchy music and impressive dance moves which make the show fun and memorable for all ages.
Tickets start from just £21.50, making it an affordable price for a family theatre outing, and babies under 18 months can sit on laps for free. There’s also a selection of official Disney Jr merchandise available to buy, with prices starting at £5 and going up to £30. Character plush toys, T-shirts and badges were on sale to enable you to bring home a little piece of the magic. Since it’s called ‘Live on Tour’ perhaps Disney has plans for the show to travel to other parts of the UK, although no dates have yet been set. If it does come to a venue near you, I highly recommend that you get your Mickey ears ready and book your tickets for some Disney magic.
★ ★ ★ ★
