MUSIC REVIEWS : DISNEY SPECTACLE

It was not the regular crowd at Hollywood Bowl Friday, but then it was not a routine program, either. It was the “Disney Symphonic Spectacular,” and the average age of the 15,145 spectators was probably decades lower than usual.

The emphasis was definitely on spectacle. Considering what was accomplished with the usually staid lighting--particularly the dancing overheads in a ‘50s hop segment--any fireworks would have been redundant.

The heart of the program was a group of movie medleys: “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Jungle Book,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Cinderella” and “Mary Poppins.” Relentlessly active, costumed characters generally crammed the foreground in singing and dancing pageants.

The most affective moments came in “Snow White,” courtesy of the assured, stylish performances of dancers Rebecca Wright and George de la Pena and soprano Marti Pia--and in the simplicity of Richard and Robert Sherman presenting their songs with just piano accompaniment. These unmasked the human face under the often frantic glitter surrounding them.

It was not as easy a night for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, as might be imagined. The arrangements offered plenty of work for both groups, led by David Alan Miller with an emphasis on speed.

Other performers included Cathy Rigby, singing “He’s a Tramp” in mock lounge style, and the Original Mouseketeers, still bobbysoxing after all these years. Disney chairman Michael Eisner proved as clumsy a host in person as he seems on TV.

By the time--very late, for children--the “Small World” finale filled the Bowl with kids and balloons, the incurably curmudgeonly were probably choking on cuteness. All others, however, were rejoicing in a surfeit of comprehensive spectacle and nostalgic warmth.