Mickey’s Rockin Roadshow, Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin

Thanks to Simon Cowell, there’s no escaping music talent shows.

Even Disney can’t escape his influence. The House of Mouse returned to Dublin last weekend and paraded much-loved characters from Minnie to Mickey, Goofy to Tigger — all with the premise they were participating in their very own X Factor. It made for a clever plotline, an opportunity for each of Disney’s most loved to own the stage for a couple of minutes.

As we expect from the master of animation, this was a slick, professional production — the sound quality and set design were without fault and the action moved at a quick, solid pace, ensuring my six-year-old cousin never lost interest.

Audience interaction was a priority and from the first number children were asked to take to their feet. A few were plucked from the crowd to the stage, along with a handful of embarrassed parents. This show was all about fun. It was Tigger, though, who provided the real laugh-out-loud moments, with his ‘bounce-off’.

The choreography and costumes were standouts, so real it was as if we were sitting in the Disney Channel. The hoe-down with Jessie and the Toy Story cast was knee-slapping entertainment, while Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother kept mini-princesses in the audience happy. But the thrill of the evening had to be the finale — the cast and audience alike were on their feet, and as the show reached its conclusion confetti was thrust upon the enthused children. Disney’s live shows each May have become something of a tradition. My advice? See the next one. They just get bigger and better.

Lara Quinn (age 13)