Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy | The Other Palace Studio

Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy is a lively show which is filled with joy and music, whilst becoming a wholesome and fun, cheeky nod to Disney adults. Based on their own experiences as Disney loving children and their own trip together to Disneyland Paris two years ago, Ayesha Patel and Jordan Li-Smith have created a buddy comedy that allows them, and audiences, to relive the magic of a Disneyland Park. The show's emphasis on the detailing of the Park as opposed to Disney as its own entity makes the show immediately unique and rich in its premise. Whilst the show is aimed at fellow Disney adults, it can be enjoyed by everyone.

The show has been built on the firm foundation of friendship between Ayesha and Jordan, as they launch into their Disney disagreements (to set the show in Disneyland Florida or Paris), their own inside jokes and park rituals. This is a beautiful showcase of this platonic love that sees them both through tough days, and makes a good day even better, as they comfortably converse with one another. However, this does make the show a bit alienating for audiences, especially those who don't know Ayesha or Jordan personally. Naturally, an autobiographical show is bound to be self-centered, and this provides a rich authenticity, but the show at times feels like it dips into self-indulgence at moments.

Directed by Tara Noonan, the show struggles to find its own identity, weighed down by too many brilliant ideas. Ayesha and Jordan are both musical theatre veterans and the show successfully incorporates this through clever references (gaining the evening's loudest audience reaction). The show also includes Jordan's brilliant compositions between the original numbers created for the show and all of the Disney song remixes, as he shakes new life into them. The show also tries to be a parody of Disney adults as it whizzes through the thoroughly planned day at the park, whilst also trying to be an earnest show about how Disney magic has been a friendly guide through their entire lives. There's quite a few strings being pulled in the show, and whilst each of them are lovely individually, it feels a little mismatched when they are crammed into a 2 hour (including interval) show.

Following on from the abrupt tone shifts at several points, the dialogue sometimes falls flat. To their credit, Jordan and Ayesha plough through, maintaining a wonderful level of enthusiasm throughout, but these moments are sadly too frequent to ignore and makes the show feels clunky at times. Perhaps aware of this, the duo take a jab at themselves by dropping a coin into the 'niche references jar', as they implode with Disney facts that no one else really registers. Whilst the reveal behind the Paris of Florida debate is a gorgeous moment of touching vulnerability, the overarching debate is too long and overshadows time that could have been spent elsewhere.

That all being said, when the show finally gets going and shines, there's nothing quite like it. The room is filled with an unapologetic joy for Disney and a zest life, as the two 'non' Disney adults embrace their inner child. As they spend their perfect day at the park, right from the early morning Rope Drop to journeying through all the lands in the park, to the hotel and gift emporium, audiences can really immerse themselves in the experience. Whether you're a park veteran, or have never been, Jordan and Ayesha's infectious energy takes audiences with them for a wild ride.

The show contains many memorable moments, including a touching tribute to Jordan's late father and their last trip to Disneyland Florida, Ayesha conquering her childhood fear of Crush's Coaster at Disneyland Paris, an interactive game of Heads Up, or the brilliantly condensed version of 'Fantasia'. The act one closing sequence, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cars with an unforgettable rendition of Life is a Highway, accompanied by a plushie of Lightning McQueen storming through an endless road on a screen (Designed by Charlotte Connelly), with the band playing live, the audience clapping along and Jordan and Ayesha singing; the moment was nothing short of Disney Magic recreated in the intimate studio space at The Other Palace

However, the strongest element of the show by far was Li-Smith's music. Already establishing himself as one of the most exciting new musical theatre writers and a trusted musical director, Li-Smith pulls out all the stops for this show. The musical numbers, whether original songs about the park and its rituals, or reimagined remixes of already beloved Disney classics, Li-Smith's music would fit right into a Disney movie. His arrangement of It's a Small World takes one of the most annoyingly catchy songs of all time and turns it into a breathtaking showstopper number. It's an impressive feat and Li-Smith more than impresses at every turn. The witty use of lyrical changes has the audience in stitches of laughter, particularly as the catchphrase "Ka-Chow" from Cars is thrown into the mix at a Cabaret (or Carbaret) parody number, which has the audiences howling in laughter.

If Li-Smith is a musical maestro, then Ayesha Patel is his muse, stunning audiences with one of the most heavenly voices. Patel effortlessly proves that she could be every single Disney Princess... And probably every other character too, with a voice that can do it all. Li-Smith showcases his own lovely vocals, especially with a cheery nod to Alan Menken's Santa Fe from Newsies. Simon Spies, Ellen Goodyer and Charlie English form the rest of the band, and they too are dazzling with a score that has audiences bopping along throughout.

Wishing to celebrate the joy of Disney with their friends, Patel and Li-Smith have included two different special guests for each of their three shows; Lewis Bear Brown and Charlotte Yorke, Joaquin Pedro Valdes and Melissa Cavanagh; and at this performance, audiences were graced with the inimitable Henry Calvert and Esme Bowdler.

Calvert brings his unique brand of comedy as he attempts to master an American accent, encompassing all the states as he becomes a sassy Jungle Cruise host, and even more so when Tink suddenly becomes a Twink. Bowdler sheds her Princess persona (after a quick yet amazing rendition of Part Of Your World), bringing the house down in her performance of Poor Unfortunate Souls as Ursula instead. Calvert and Bowdler are given chances to shine both independently and as a duo (mostly in the second act), and they are always a welcome sight on stage, bringing a truly wonderful electricity in the room.

The show ends on a more inspirational note, as Jordan and Ayesha finally embrace being too much, too emotional, too cringey and too narrow minded, because they are happy. It's a beautiful note to end it on, encouraging their audience to take up their space, to be loud and proud, to dream and dance and laugh again, and to remember that magic is still alive.

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Harry Hope