Little Mermaid Preopening

[Dis Fan]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 6:41pm

Saw the Preopening of The Little Mermaid in Denver, Co. and I must say . . . how disappointing.

Let me start with the good first. The open scene was good. I liked how they brought the ship down to make it appear as though it was on water. the ship itself was kind of cheesy. Ariel was great. I thought she did a great job. The reason I say missed cast for Ursula is that in the movie they drew her as a bigger women. In the second film, Ursula sister is the skinny one, even though she was a mermaid. I know there are a lot of bigger women who would love to play that part. Rene is a great actress, however, this part was not made for her. Anyway, The storm scene where Prince Eric falls off the ship was done very well. The Cook scene was done great and I enjoyed his performance. Kiss the Girl scene was done well. Kind of reminded me of The Lion King. Rene had many moments that I thought she did well. Ursula’s dwelling had some good ideas. I really liked the tentacles that came from behind the “shell” if you want to call it.

So here comes the bad. The costumes were not that great. You could see where the fin was connected to the person. Sometimes you could even see a gap. Flounders costume was just an oversize tee shirt. Scuttles was okay. The hat could have been done a bit better. It looked like it was thrown together at the last minute. Ursula costume was distracting. She couldn’t really move, and I don’t think that part of the character. You saw the dress and legs, plus the eight tentacles. I just wanted more from that character, not necessarily the actress. The song “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” there was no “magic” that was done. Ariel was put in the “shell” and then transformed. I wanted to see something amazing with the caldron . . . smoke, flashes, something. But the song was just sung. She might have moved a total of three times during the whole song. You would have thought that that song might have been the show stopper in the first act, but it wasn’t. To get Eric to fall in love with her she had to dance, which was her “voice”. Ursula never did come up to the surface to steal Eric away. There was no competition between Ursula and Ariel. Ariel never turned back in to a mermaid, and when she “fought” Ursula, she was still wearing her ball gown, walking on the bottom of the “ocean”. Ursula never did become huge, which is disappointing. If they can make Jafar grow into a huge snake at Disneyland, on stage, why not be able to make Ursula do the same?? And for Ariel to get her voice back she had to break a sea shell and kiss Eric, well sure??

I really hope they do more with the ending before it goes to Broadway in Nov. Now would be the time to change things. I’m a huge Disney fan and thought Lion King and Beauty and the Beast was fantastic. This will probably be on the same lines as Tarzan. It would be a “good” Disney park show if they cut it down.

Updated On: 8/22/07 at 06:41 PM

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 6:57pm

This review blows chunks. Are you 5?

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 6:58pm

LMAO Brian my thoughts exactly.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:08pm

lol right? I'd rather just re-read ur review steph.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:11pm

I agree with Brian, too.

A skinny woman playing a role of a bigger woman, what is up with that.

Um, not true. It's an interpretation. There's no need for her to be "bigger." it's just the way she was animated. It's not integral or dire to the plot. That comment is like making a point of Norm Lewis playing Ariel's father.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:20pm

LOL, I was thinking the same thing Brian.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:25pm

Also how can the role be for a bigger woman when there never was a bigger woman who has played it?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:41pm

missed cast

Ahahahaha.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:43pm

I'm glad you joined to demonstrate for us the fruits of today's Public School system. This is our future!

[myjourney]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 7:52pm

I agree with the first posting. Little Mermaid is my FAVORITE Disney movie and this show in no way met my expectations. I was incredibly excited to hear they were doing this and then after seeing it--BLECH! Ursula is my all time favorite villain--she makes the movie--with Pat Carr as the voice and the character modeled after Divine. But when I saw Renee doing it, it was such a huge let down. There has to be some sort of type casting. And the ending? What's up with that? And what's the point? Shell breaks and Ursula dies. How pathetic.

Disney set the bar high with Beauty and the Beast and then when Lion King came around...what an experience. Little Mermaid--not so much. Nobody left really excited about the show. It was an okay show, but nothing I would pay Broadway prices to see. They definately have their work cut out for them if they are really going to make it. Not that critics should be taken seriously--but they are going to have a hay day with this one. This show is definately "in pain, in need".

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 9:45pm

"lol right? I'd rather just re-read ur review steph."----AWW, that's too nice! Thanks :)


"Little Mermaid is my FAVORITE Disney movie .....Ursula is my all time favorite villain--she makes the movie--with Pat Carr as the voice and the character modeled after Divine."

If it was really your favorite Disney movie you would know that Ursula was voiced by Pat Carroll, not Pat Carr. :) lol I'm sure it was a typo, but I had to do it.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 9:47pm

so, are myjourney and Dis Fan the same person?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 10:29pm

One is much more articulate than the other.
I guwss Dis Fan ain't one amymore.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 2:08am

haha agreed Brian!

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 2:24am

who is Renee and why did she put Sherie out of work?

[Kelly2]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 2:28am

Dunno what show you saw, but it clearly wasn't the same one as me.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 3:55am

I will re-post my thoughts here and in a few other threads....Saw the show on 8/21

I guess I will start with the stage door. The members that came out were very very nice and all said they loved Denver. Sierra's very proud grandfather and family were there. I was standing next to them. They evidently threw a party for the cast on Monday evening as the cast seemed to know them. After waiting for about 45 minutes for Sherie we we told that she and Sean had already gone.

The show. I will try to keep it short as there have been many posts about it.

Costumes - I think the costumes were fine for the most part. The only costumes I wasn't totally cray about were the seagull costumes. But they were ok. So much has been said about Flounders costume. I think it was fine. Everthing about it said "kid". it had a fin on it and was fine.

The sets, lighting, sound design and "effects", for the most part, are out of control fabulous. I really didn't have a problem with the 2 towers that everyone is talking about. And they really don't look like bongs. They are multifunctional and only seemed out of place during a scene at the palace but prjections appeared on the rear scrim that pulled them into the scene. They also turn into trees during Kiss the Girl. The underwater effect when the prince falls off of the boat is really very cool and effective. When the boat "falls apart" it pretty much disappears above the stage and the Prince falls to the stage to Ariel's level and she "swims" around him and pushes him up to the shore. The scrim use is good and the waves are kinda cool but they tend to hop over them at times which takes the swimming effect away. There is no statue of the Prince. A telescope takes its place in the scene where Trton destroys Ariels human things. Also, at times you hear water bubbleing and swishing around the theater.

The new songs - For the most part very nice. Sherie brought down the house with "I Want the Good Times Back". I really enjoyed "If Only" and was impressed with the staging. it was done with a scrim in front with star like projections, Ariel in bed, Sebastion at the foot of the bed, King triton off to the left and the Prince above on the ship. It had three dimensional feel. I also liked the orchestrations for the most part.

The heelies worked well for the most part. At times, they just seemed to be on skates but it wasn't really distracting. Kudos to the cast for how well they dance with them on.

Under the Sea: The production number - am sure people were waiting for, was just fine. It could have been over the top but wasn't. needless to say, it got great applause and they went into a short reprise.

The problems - The second half of act two. The show just seems to go "under the sea". As you have all read from other posts, they stray from the story a bit. The competition really does need to go. The whole section where Ariel gets her voice back seems a bit rushed and thrown together. I sat there thinking, "they are still working on this". (And that may be quite true as I was told before the show that there will be a lot of changes between Denver and New York). I read a post here where someone said that they should have King Triton create the rainbow. he should. There is a pretty good lighting effect when he waves his "staff" (I forget now what it is called) and there is this cool swirl of lighting. if they can achieve that, they can achieve a rainbow. The demise of Ursala is done with wild flashing lights and she rolls to the rear of the stage and is gone.

The celebration between the two "worlds" at the end did not really work for me. Once again, just seemed thrown together. And we got streamers over the orchestra section at the end. Lots of ooos and aahs when they shot out and I wonder if they were used to make you forget how weak the second act was?!

The performances - It was all about Sherie Rene. For the few times she was onstage, she was very good. her "poor Unfortunate Souls" reprise kind of gets lost though and should just be cut. Sierra Boggess is a wonderful Ariel and has a wonderful voice 9And I told her so at the stage door.) her Ariel in act 2 without the voice was spot on. Tituss Burgess also ruled the stage whenever he was on. Very good comic performance. Norm Lewis (Once you took your eyes off of his chest!) was also very good. I have read that he is "underused) but he was onstage as much as the character is seen in the movie. it was fine. Sean Palmer- A Nice voice but didn't really excite me. They really should figure out how to include the Prince's dog from the movie. Tyler & Derrick were fun as Flotsam and Jetsam. Don't know if they got rid of them, but there were no strips of lights on their costumes at this performance.

Overall - An enjoyable evening at the theatre. Anyone who has read my posts knows that I am not a big Disney stage show fan. I did not see Tarzan, but from what I have heard and seen of it, this could redeem Disney on Broadway a bit. There is a lot to like here and some not to like. And I think the things not to like lay in the second act with the changes made to the story, the wretched contest scene and the poor book, at that point. You come out entertained, but you, or at least I, feel that there was just something missing that you can't put your finger on. With changes, it could last a number of years. As it is now, not sure. But I kept thinking, how long will audiences flock to the new Disney shows. They are like the Lloyed Weber of today and I just feel they will fade soon. And like Weber's "Phantom", "Lion King" will reamain the show still standing when the rest are gone. Just my random thoughts! (So much for short!)

Updated On: 8/22/07 at 03:55 AM

[Coolness_]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 6:48am

Sherie Rene Scott missed cast? I beg your pardon!

[joe5]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 7:04am

Enough already!!!!! This post is a huge JOKE!!!!!! Not dishing Uncaged
Updated On: 8/22/07 at 07:04 AM

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 7:24am

Did I missed read something or was Dis Fan's post kinda...bad...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 9:13am

"The cook was the only great thing about the show."

The cook is John Treacy Egan. As small as the part is, I'm looking forward to his performance.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 9:18am

Sherie was outstanding. I read a post here that said she looked uncomfortable in her costume. I think they call it being in character! The costume was really cool. The bubble thing she was in was ok, but appeared a bit cheesey a few times. I think especially in her final scene.

As the show sinks in more, I will probably have a bit more to post about it.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 4:54pm

This thread gave me a good laugh at work. Except for having to covering my laughing with coughs so no one heard me, I found it very enjoyable.

One of my favorites: "who is Renee and why did she put Sherie out of work?"

[NewYorkYankee2006]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 5:01pm

has anybody got any sound clips of sean palmer singing from any of his shows?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/22/07 at 5:10pm

Why do people "assume" crowds will flock to see this show,
They didn't for TARZAN, and I walk by the LUNT quite often and never have seen a line at the box office.
DISNEY should just bring in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, now that would be critic proof.
And why shouldn't a 5 yerar old review the show, they are part of the target audience, and yes I get the joke.