Mirror Mirror, Who’s The Naughtiest of Them All?

Ever felt like the classic Disney villains made you feel some sort of way? Laren Steppler’s new burlesque-inspired spectacle, “Mirror Mirror: A Naughty Villain’s Cabaret, has this vision come to life with scandalous performances from your favourite evil characters. It features playful costumes, lots of horny puns and references to the Disney source material, and a good amount of sexy dancing (props to choreographer Julie Kiraly). The cabaret acts were varied, ranging from classic song & dance numbers, old-fashioned fan dancing, and an anti-gay piano ballad. There was even an audience interaction moment with Katelyn Cabalo’s Dr. Facilier bringing up someone for a card reading!

While fun and campy, the show teeters the line between humorous and sexy instead of fully committing to one. However, it’s not necessarily a negative, as the audience would roar just as loudly for both the Rule 34 fanart playing in the background, and the clothes coming off the iconic evildoers. What does stand out as incongruous with the rest of the performance is the small pause made to talk about the true meaning of the piece. The intention seems to be to subvert how queer people are perceived, as they are often seen as villains. Though emotional, and an important message after all, it comes at an awkward time in the show just before the end; and feels more like an interruption to the saucy action. If this message could have been better incorporated into the story itself, it would have been fabulous.

Nevertheless, “Mirror Mirror” is definitely a Fringe show you will not forget. Whether you loved it or hated it, there is no denying that this cabaret knows how to put on a wickedly entertaining show, leaving audiences with plenty to laugh about, gasp at, and maybe even question after the lights dim out.