'Princesses' delights -- I told you so

One of the privileges of being a subsriber to the season at The Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle is the opportunity to see locally produced and touring company musicals. It has also brought new shows to Seattle, shows originating here in the hinterlands while working out bugs before heading to Broadway. Three years ago, "Hairspray" did just that and went on to win a shelf full of Tony Awards. This year, The Fifth helped stage "Princesses," a new musical originally planned for late spring and a possible trip to Broadway. When it confirmed an appearance on the Great White Way, the theater had to reschedule the show for August with the payoff being that the show would include its Broadway cast and would be fine-tuned for a New York debut.

But the reviewers all said "Princesses" is no "Hairspray." The reviewers poo-pooed the high-school plot and characters as thin and stereotypical. The reviewers influenced some people (like my companions). But I remained faithful, confident that the music would be good at least, considering it was to be hip and teen-oriented. I was not disappointed, and my friends were surprised.

The show tells the story of a girl sent to a boarding school, where she gets involved in a school production of "The Little Princess." The play-within-a-play offers some nice parallels, and the show overall has a great set of songs and a nice message. Sure, there are some thin spots, but perhaps those can be addressed in New York. But the music does rock and the characters arfe shockingly real -- based on stereotypes because the stereotype is based in reality. Kids really do those things, and I've seen most of it in the halls at my own school.

I summary, "Princesses" was a nice way to spend an afternoon -- some great music, some funny lyrics, some fun choreography and singing. Watch for it on Broadway.

Meanwhile, next season -- in February -- The Fifth has also scheduled a debut musical that will move from Seattle to New York. Mark your calendars for "The Wedding Singer," a musical adaptation of the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie from a few years ago.

Next year's Tony Awards should offer some familiar nominations.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.