I was 10 years old the first time I saw this production, and it is one of my favorite childhood memories! It was recorded from several live stage performances, for HBO, and I am SO GLAD THEY DID!!!
SNOW WHITE LIVE is, for the most part, a stage performance of the original 1937 Disney classic. But it takes us to places that the animated film didn't go. With two new songs, written by Joe Cook and Jay Blackton, and added characters, SNOW WHITE LIVE fleshes out the familiar tale.
Mary Jo Salerno (A Modern Affair (1996)) has the task of turning the world's original animated heroine into a flesh and blood princess. With a pleasant singing voice and a energetic stage presence, Ms. Salerno manages to give Snow White a pleasant and sweet quality, without sending the audience into a sugar overdose. Her rendition of "Someday My Prince Will Come", still gives me goosebumps! She was the right actress for the job!
Richard Bowne has the thankless job of being Snow White's "One True Love".....Prince Charming. In the live performance, he is given one of the two new songs in the show, "Will I Ever See Her Again", which is cut from the HBO and video productions. A very "charming" song, we can only assume that it was left on the cutting room floor (along with the Seven Dwarf's song "Buddle-Uddle-Um-Dum" aka, "The Washing Song") simply for timing reasons......a rather sad mistake. For the audience's sake, I home it is put back in if the show is ever re-released.
Anne Francine ('Crocodile' Dundee (1986)) is nasty as the Wicked Queen. Her performance is over the top, and a bit campy, very much like that of the British pantomime productions. A bit old for the role, yet still effective, she gives the audience a "witch" they can truly hate!
With a wonderful opening number, and a splashy wedding finale, I HIGHLY recommend locating a copy of this video. It is a rare treat that shouldn't be missed!
