‘Frozen The Musical’ Early Buzz: Critics Run Hot And Cold On The Disney Stage Adaptation
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IsFrozen The Musicala Disney stage adaptation that you should let go? Or will you melt with love for it? The consensus seems to be divided inFrozen The Musicalearly buzz.
The musical, which made its Broadway debut onMarch 22, 2018after a brief preview run in Denver last year, was one of the most hotly anticipated musicals of the year. Based on the massively successful 2013 movie that dominated Disney merchandise for years,Frozen The Musicallooked like it could do no wrong. The book is written byFrozenwriter-directorJennifer Leewith music by Oscar-winning duoKristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who penned 12 new songs for the production. But does that helpFrozen The Musicalsing with critics?
Below, see what critics are saying aboutFrozen The Musical.
The New York TimescallsFrozen The Musicala “beautiful” stage production that struggles to find the balance between “the somber and the silly”:
Entertainment Weeklyagrees, noting that the “musical seems at times to be pulled between its elegant virtues and its cartoon instincts,” a natural obstacle when adapting a literal cartoon movie to the Broadway stage:
The Daily Beastwas less kind toFrozen, criticizing the “humongous gaps in the fabric” of the story and change in protagonist from Elsa (Caissie Levy)to Anna (Patti Murin):
Elsa isn’t the star of thisFrozen, Anna is. It is Anna’s bravery, humor, and wit that resonate. Elsa is so imperious and so alone she comes across more as an object of pity than admiration.
The LA TimescallsFrozen The Musicala “relentlessly perky stage adaptation,” but praises the sisterly dynamic between Elsa and Anna:
There’s much to admire in a modern fairy tale that wants to resist the romantic traps of the genre. “Frozen” elevates the bond between sisters over more traditional hetero-normative endings. The refreshingly female-centered story is laden with nuggets of updated moral wisdom.
TheBBCpraised the special effects of the show, especially the puppet effects that bring to life popular sidekicks Olaf and Sven:
The puppet design provided for Sven and Olaf the snowman is a highlight of this Frozen, which had its official opening night on Thursday. Credit for this goes to puppet designer Michael Curry, who previously made magic as Julie Taymor’s collaborator on The Lion King, Disney’s longest-running Broadway hit.
InsidetheMagic.Netcalled it a perfect stage adaptation for fans of the original 2013 film:
Frozen The Musicalis currently playing on Broadway. You can buy ticketshere.
