Another pop musical has made its way onto Broadway, and this time, it’s powered by the music of Britney Spears. Once Upon a One More Time flips the script on the traditional fairytale characters and princesses as they set out to change their happily ever afters with the help of a rogue fairy godmother. You might have found yourself asking: Do we need another jukebox musical with early 2000s pop music? Another Cinderella-based fairytale this season? Well, when a show is this fun, it has a rightful home.
Yes, the show does bear a lot of similarities to other recent shows on Broadway. The humor is comparable to that of & Juliet, the Cinderella-based storyline finds parallels to Bad Cinderella and Into the Woods, and several of the songs can also be found in Moulin Rouge and & Juliet. Plus, the themes of female empowerment are prevalent in several recent plays and musicals. Despite this, the show finds a unique footing that feels like a grown-up Disney Channel Original Movie (but it still ends up being family-friendly).
The show largely centers around Cinderella, but still features other favorite princesses and fairytale characters. While the entire cast is absolutely mind-blowing, the standouts were absolutely Aisha Jackson as Snow White, Justin Guarini as Prince Charming, and Jennifer Simard as the Stepmother. While all of the characters are easily recognizable, and all of the songs are well-known hits, the show still manages to surprise with plot twists and turns that are perfectly fit for a modern fairytale. Without giving too much away, Prince Charming is not the knight in shining armor he traditionally is in fairytales, and while the Stepmother is still the antagonist, she’s given much more depth than we’ve seen in previous renditions. In fact, Simard as the Stepmother is given a moment to steal the show with a performance of “Toxic” (a music video was released and I have been fully obsessed with it).
Once Upon a One More Time is the only show I have seen twice in previews, yet the second time I saw the show was extremely different than the first. While the first act was mostly the same, the second act had rewritten scenes, added (and cut) songs, and a restructured plot. Yet, both times, I had an absolute blast and the show is truly one of the most fun times on Broadway. You’re greeted in the lobby by large, sparkly photo boxes themed to the show, and by the end of the show itself, you are literally on the feet dancing with light-up wristbands. It’s a guaranteed good time out for all ages, and for locals and tourists alike.
If you’ve seen Once Upon a One More Time at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway, or the pre-Broadway tryout in Washington, D.C., be sure to let me know what you thought!
Have a terrific day!
