Cappies Review: 'Disney's Descendants' At Robinson Secondary School

By Kaitlyn Couvillon of Gainesville High School

Robinson Secondary's production of "Disney's Descendants: The Musical" will have you feeling "Rotten to the Core." The musical, which is based off the Disney movie by the same name, follows the children of four of the evilest villains in Auradon: Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, Jafar, and the Evil Queen.

Every villain has been banished to the Isle of the Lost by decree of Belle and Beast, but their son Ben wants nothing more than to unite the two lands, and as his first official order as soon-to-be king he wishes to give the villain kids a chance on Auradon. Trouble ensues as villain kids Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos plot to steal Fairy Godmother's magic wand, but it all goes awry as the kids spend time in Auradon and learn that they can be good instead of evil.

The performance given by Robinson senior Abby Camp as Mal showed incredible vocal strength and a phenomenal understanding of her character. Camp understood Mal's complexity and played into it beautifully. Underneath Mal's stubborn, Devil-may-care attitude, there is a deeper layer of good that was beat out of her by the Isle and Camp did an excellent job walking that line.

Another standout was Kate Wamboldt as Evie. Immediately, Wamboldt stood apart through her vocals, which never failed to impress. Wamboldt lights up the stage with her presence, showing a deep understanding of Evie's character as both someone who enjoys being girly but is also incredibly smart.

Together, Wamboldt and Camp become a stunning pair that transfix the audience, especially during their incredible performance of the number "Space Between," which is full of emotion and seamlessly blended vocals. The pair commanded all the attention during this beautiful ballad of friendship, and the power and devotion echoed through their acting and singing.

An additional standout in the performance is Robinson senior Ian Toppall as Chad, whose infectious energy and exaggerated acting choices never failed to draw laughter. His willingness to commit to the outrageous character he is playing set him apart from others and makes him a clear favorite among the audience.

The production featured some incredible tech elements as well. The makeup crew, headed by Gabby Smith-Stutzer, Agustin Anello Quiroga, and Jamie McCormick, put their best foot forward in showcasing stunning looks like that of the Evil Queen, a makeup look that clearly took lots of effort on the part of the crew. Much thought was put into every design, especially for the pairs of villains and their kids, whose contrast was a highly effective detail in distinguishing the characters.

Another impressive aspect of the tech side was the remarkable light choreography of students Katie Eagan. Zaya Economides, and Haley Novotny. The floor lighting, especially during the number "If Only," was a remarkable tool to distinguish the two worlds of Ben and Mal as it followed them throughout the scene.

All in all, Robinson Secondary's production of "Disney's Descendants: The Musical" was one not to be missed and will surely be remembered fondly by all those who had the pleasure of seeing it.