Disney's classic fairytales have kept millions in thrall. Amany Abdel-Moneim invites you along on an amazing journey Disney has always been a thrilling part of the imagination, a world of fantasy to which as a little girl especially I responded with the utmost excitement. Since The Beauty and the Beast show in Cairo, on ice has exercised almost as much of a hold in its own right. Going with my daughter to see The Princess Classics, on the present occasion, seemed like an opportunity for bonding, too. Nostalgia galore: the show manager Steven Armstrong had explained that the performance revolves around the most emotional moments in the lives of Disney's seven princesses Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, the Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and Snow White binding them, together with their respective magic princes, into a whole, heartening experience, for the first time in Disney history, in fact: a tale of triumph against evil using the magical combination of heart, humour and hope as told through the seven princesses . Performed by an international team of 40 award-winning figure skaters, the show is produced by Feld Entertainment and makes up a most wholesome occasion for collective recall. At the rink, as expected, numerous surprises were to be had: colours, music and special effects including a free-standing revolving castle, three storeys high, which took us to a different part of the world, rather a different world, with each revolution: the Arabian palace in the city of Agrabah where Jasmine lives, Mulan's China, the Sleeping Beauty's towers all on the breathtaking ice itself, shimmering in a million hues, emanating paradoxical warmth. Much of the castle's beauty had to do with the intricately lit gates, as the lighting designer Peter Morse put it, both on the inside and the outside, the lights add more detail to the structure. At one point it disappears as we go underwater, surrounded by neon coral and a kind of black light, only to reappear in totally new form. Lights were used brilliantly to aid in the progress of the drama. We have to light the whole scene to keep it bright and beautiful, Morse explained, while also highlighting the speaker... It took four weeks to ship the necessary equipment, according to Armstrong: we then spent another five days to make it ready for our performance. It is exclusive to Egypt, he explained, though in the future, we may consider Dubai. The two-hour performance, including intermission, comes in two halves, with the first half sketching out the six stories each ends on a mild cliffhanger and the second concentrating on Cinderella, with a grand finale in the ballroom tying up all the loose ends. Lamp, wand, flying carpet and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo : true magic happens. And it engages you so much you feel transported, sharing the mischief of Snow White and her pint-sized sidekicks. Music and dialogue kept the predominantly young audience entertained, too, although they were rather more amazed by the visuals, down to glittering costumes and meticulous sets. Generally the show was somewhat long, said Dalia Waheed, 14, but not in a bad way . Cinderella was a little boring, she says, except for the carriage scene real magic . For Nesma Sayed, the mother of Abdel-Rahman and Shahd, two and four, respectively, took exception to the loose ends of the first half, but this did not prevent her from sharing the joy of her children: in general it was very attractive, amazing. Disney may be overrated, but it's good to have it in your backyard because it's always worth seeing once. For Amina, 29, the show was a stunning experience, but even more satisfying was the sight of her daughter Mariam's eyes lighting up while she watched the horses of Cinderella's carriage coming on the stage in sparkling colours. For her part Rana Said, 16, was disappointed: she had expected a veritable carnival of sights and sounds, and ended up with what she saw as a modest portrayal of the world of Disney. My own favourite moments and here my daughter agreed with me, or rather I with her included the arrival of the seven dwarves, Jasmine and Ali on the flying carpet, the underwater world and the carriage of Cinderella. Disney rarely skimped on expenses, and Amina's views notwithstanding, it is well worth the ticket price. Worth mentioning, in the on ice context, is the trail of goody booths surrounding both rink and entrances: overpriced souvenirs that drive children crazy and parents to destitution. At LE15-140, however, they were relatively affordable on this occasion, thank God.
