2024, Fantasy, Kids, Music, Mysteries, Songs, Theatre, Uncategorized

Prince Among Men

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My little friend next door, Minnie, loves to sing and dance.  For the past two summers she had done a summer camp at the Lundstrum Performing Arts Center; this year they presented Annie Jr (just a shorter version of Annie).  Considering that it is all untrained kids and that they get the whole thing together in two weeks, they did a great job.

This was all that Minnie talked about for two weeks.  In addition to previewing the song/dance that she was in, she regaled me with stories of how things were progressing and who was playing what part.  There were several kids who had been in Little Mermaid with her last year and although I did see the show last year, I couldn’t have told you any of the players except Minnie. 

Of course there was also the post-production discussion the day after the last performance.  I commented that the young man who played Rooster Hannigan did a nice job.  He also had a great dance solo dressed as a street Santa in the N.Y.C. song.  Minnie quickly pointed out that he had played Prince Eric in Little Mermaid.  When I said I hadn’t remembered that, she commented that he hadn’t had to do very much to be the prince.  Then she added, almost as an afterthought, that princes don’t usually have much to do. 

In her world, all her princesses and princes are represented by Disney.  As I thought about it the next few days, I realized that Disney has, for the most part, not spent too much energy on princes.  Snow White’s prince doesn’t have a name, Sleeping  Beauty’s prince does have a name (and a bit of backstory) but doesn’t have much personality.  Cinderella’s prince is also pretty non-descript.  Ariel’s prince is a little bland and definitely clueless.  Belle’s prince spends most of the movie as a beast and Tiana’s prince spends most of the movie as a frog.  Merida has three princes, all of whom are a bit… lacking.  A few princes fare a bit better in their Disney representation but clearly it’s all about the princesses. 

I’m not too worried about this unfair portrayal – I doubt that young girls and boys are too damaged by this uneven treatment.  But I also don’t believe that Barbie dolls are inherently evil either. 

If you were to be a Disney princess or prince (or villain if you prefer) for a week, who would you choose?

31 thoughts on “Prince Among Men”

  3. Rise and Shine Baboons,

    Like Bill, I am not friends with any of them. And after our book group discussion about the lives of royalty yesterday afternoon, I have little motivation to be a royal of any flavor. But I have always wondered if the birds that assisted Cinderella to don her gown, pooped on the dress at all? Birds are famous for that.

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  4. Can I be the Boy Scout, Russell, who rescues the old man, Carl, from loneliness and depression by his persistence and joi de vivre in the movie “Up”? I know it’s not a Disney princess movie but I’m not familiar with many of those. And I loved the movie “Up.”

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        3. However, I know that you believe that only people who do not want power should have it. It appears we should run you for this!

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  6. Ah, yes, a question that has plagued mankind for centuries. 😉

    Never thought much about being royalty. Wouldn’t want the job for any amount of money. But I suppose if I had to choose, being Aladdin for a week might be fun if only to ride on a magic carpet.

    Chris in O-town

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  8. I was at a basketball tournament back when Olivia and Emma were probably five and seven and dressed in princess attire. One of the dads said oh I see it’s princess day at your house and I replied that every day is princess day at my house.

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  10. I can see I’m not up to date on my princesses – I don’t think I’ve even seen the Little Mermaid, or anything more recent… having not had little girls around.

    I’d have to go with Cinderella – because of the birds who were her friends, and the mice – esp. the one that called her “Cinderelly”.

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    1. It is really cool that after clicking on that link, other fine movies were suggested. I’m right now watching the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on YouTube without the subscription cost. It’s been at least 30 years since I’ve watched it. Still scary in parts.

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  14. This is really cool! I’ve just finished Snow White and the original Pinocchio comes up from Panda Cizgi Film still on YouTube for free. That was the source for Snow White.
    I’ll be singing for Ben, It’s An Actor’s Life For Me.

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