Interview: Michelle Knight's DISENCHANTED Evening

Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. True love's kiss.

And they lived happily ever after.

Well...not exactly.

These are all familiar plot points in a fairy tale realm beloved by generations of young girls (and some grown women). But what happens when the princesses rebel and take a stand for independence?

DISENCHANTED! The Musical happens. It's a raucous Off Broadway riposte to Disney's traditional darlings (think Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty) who must meet the prince of their dreams to have a life fulfilled. But not if Michelle Knight has anything to say on the matter.

Knight, who plays ringleader Snow White in this PG-13 musical, thinks the message is spot on for today's society. "Disenchanted! is about the fairy tale princesses who are a little peeved" - at their public personas - "and bond one night to air their grievances," she said.

"It's basically a variety show, a comic look at common issues everyday women face," she said. There's a serious undertone to the festive frivolity. "We address serious topics that girls and women face in real life, including sexual identity and eating disorders." The royal renegades toss their tiaras to skewer the traditional tales and bring their scathing, subversive review to a cheering public.

The musical incorporates familiar princesses and some not-as-familiar. Included are Cinderella (Becky Gulsvig), Snow White, The Little Mermaid/Belle/Rapunzel (Alison Burns) and Mulan/Pocahantas/Princess Badroulbador from Aladin (Lulu Picart), and the princess known as The Princess Who Kissed a Frog (Soara-Joye Ross).

Knight originated the role of Snow White in 2011 at the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival and reprised the role at New York City's Peter Jay Sharp Theater and Don't Tell Mama Cabaret Theater.

The timing couldn't be more fortuitous, she added, citing Disney's behemoth FROZEN tapping into a generation embracing a self-empowering figure. "I think we're seeing a shift in how princesses are viewed," she said. "The princesses in the show are trying to get the word out that we're tired of being passive" and want to take a more pro-active stance in their evolution.

"FROZEN is a real breakthrough in the perception of princesses as helpless pawns," she said. Contemporary fairy tales show princesses who are versed in athletics and self-reliance, she said. "Especially in FROZEN-they're not waiting for men to take care of them. It's become more than just damsels in distress."

Knight put a reflective spin on the phenomenon. "Women were raised to be princesses and bought into the merchandising early on," she said. "If I put all my princess merchandise on eBay, I would be rich. My poor parents bought every plush doll as I grew up. I was in love with Snow White, probably because we tend to identify with the one who looks most like ourselves."

The show is not a raspberry to Disney, she stressed. "I love Disney and have been a Disney employee off and on, for the past 11 years. I love the Disney product, I do," said the Florida native. "We treat Disney with respect in the show. They put out amazing products. We're not blasting Disney in any way.

"The message is looking over at women's stereotypes. Like we have to pick a tall, dark, handsome mate, keep a clean house and that's when you're perfect. Well, it's not reality, it doesn't have to be that way," she said.

"Because it is satire, I don't feel like I'm betraying my master," she joked. "The term 'princess' doesn't mean what it used to mean, and I applaud Disney for responding to that. The show is really a roast of Disney and what I've always loved is the magic and fantasy of Disney."

While traditional fairy tales will always resonate, it's important to challenge society's perceptions of womanhood, she said.

One of her favorite parts (she has many) is the opening song. "It's a lengthy patter, exposition, explaining who we are and how we feel about 'happily ever after.' And I love the interaction with the audience. Sometimes it's hilarious. There's a bit in the number where Mulan has trouble getting off of the­­­ floor and she says something different each night. I mean, we're in high heels, it's ridiculous, it makes me laugh and the audience loves it."

Improvisation goes hand-in-glove with the show's story, Knight said. "Our director (Fiely A. Matias) has given us the right to improv in moments when it's obvious we need to. The audience is the seventh member of the show because we're breaking the fourth wall all the time.

"For example, Cinderella, in one moment, gets frustrated with the high heel glass slipper and chucks it offstage," she said. "Well, one time it bounced and landed back on stage and she had to make a moment out of it and she did."

Using the term "princess" comes with its own baggage, Knight said. "I think it elicits the idea that you have to be beautiful and special but we want to add strong and smart and funny and independent. 'Princess' isn't just this one image, it's a real woman with real issues," she said, referring to the six-member cast.

Princess costumes (Vanessa Leuck) are dazzling, with a twist, she added. "Snow White is also like a ringmaster of ceremonies, with big boots. I feel like a super princess, strong and in control."

Knight, with her luminous skin, cherry red lips and midnight black cropped hair is costumed in Snow White's trademark red, white and black frock with matching red and black spatz boots. Her comedic delivery recalls a wise Leah Remini. She's been told that before.

Rapunzel's costume is her favorite. "Rapunzel is maybe the most amazing thing I've seen: it's beautiful and crazy looking. And Jasmine's costume is like a flying carpet -- she looks like she's flying, it's unbelievable," she said.

So who's coming to the show? "We have a lot of everyone, the greatest reaction we get is when a boyfriend has begrudgingly come and he usually laughs the loudest of all. We get a lot of 'Girls Night Out' women coming in tiaras. It's not one target audience, there's something for everyone.

"Our favorite audience is the one that accepts our silliness and are ready to laugh," she said. "And if they go on that journey with us, they'll have a great time."

DISENCHANTED! THE MUSICAL is playing through January 25 at the Theatre at St. Clements, 423 W. 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

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