Little Mermaid Review - Long with Spoilers

[TimeSuckage]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 2:33pm

Saw the 8/18 matinee. Overall I thought it was delightful. It has some problems but they’re surmounted by the fact that it’s a very sweet, engaging, entertaining Disney show for families and tourists.

Sierra was just lovely. She looks and sounds magnificent. She definitely recreates the Ariel we all love from the film but also does her own thing when she can.

Sherie was great – when isn’t she? It looked like she was very hampered physically by the costume, like she can’t move her legs at all, and they try to work around that making the costume move for her, but she just looks terribly uncomfortable. She’s such a big, wonderful stage presence that it felt weird to see all that wonderful energy so stagnant. If I’m really nitpicking, I think her voice is too sweet for Ursula, but I forgive that because she’s so great. What’s the best about Sherie is that she makes the role her own. Pat Carroll is pretty indelible, but Sherie has created her own Ursula, and for that she deserves tons of praise, if not a Tony nomination.

Norm – Holy crapski, that’s some set of abs. They were almost distracting. I think he’s totally underused. That voice, that gorgeous, gorgeous voice – no solo number? A total waste of talent.

Tituss – Awesome. Adorable.

Great opening. All the effects are great, easy to see how they are done (well, I was in the fifth row) but they totally work. I like the addition of “She’s in Love” for the Mersisters. Totally agree that Flounder’s costume SUCKS. It’s just sad. The Seagulls are goofy but they are real crowd pleasers. It’s nice to see animal characters that are more representative and not as spot-on as The Lion King. Yes, Flotsam and Jetsam don’t look like eels – so what? It’s a musical, not a Discovery Channel special. Yes, the mermaid tails/legs take getting used to – they are still evocative of what they need to be and make their point. I liked the movement on the heelys and how it was used. Sierra and Tyler and Derrick really made the most of using their upper bodies in connection with the heely/swimming motions. Put it this way – if you want to suspend disbelief and go with it, you’ll have no problem with it. If you want to nitpick and gripe about realism, well, what are you doing at this show in the first place is my real question. Tyler and Derrick’s harmonies are awesome. Everyone’s mentioned about the stage “bongs” – first of all, they look exactly like drawings from the movie of Triton’s underwater castle. Second, they are nicely used (especially in “Kiss the Girl”). I liked how they incorporated a watery look to the design elements – how everything is clear and reflective. Because I was sitting so close, I think I missed the “big picture” effect that was created. This might be a good show to see from the middle orchestra and back – up close you saw every sequin and seam.

I love Doug Wright, so I thought it was cool that he made an effort to round out some character/dramatic arcs. Triton alludes to humans having something to do with the death of Ariel’s mother, so he doesn’t just hate humans because they are human, he has a reason. Now he’s not just concerned for Ariel because he’s her father, he perceives humans to be a real threat. Also Sebastian sells out Ariel to Triton because he is concerned for her and wants her to be happy – nice to give him that motivation, and there’s a very sweet paternal relationship that emerges between Sebastian and Ariel once the action gets on land. Act Two is definitely problematic. How do you do a musical where your lead character loses her voice? It’s solved pretty simplistically – we hear what’s in Ariel’s head. And my favorite number is in Act Two – “If Only” – just a gorgeous bit of stage business. The song is great, the harmonies are lovely, it’s dramatic and beautifully directed. Just a perfect theater moment. However, the ending stinks – sorry, no two ways about it. The contest is ridiculous and the plot gets really muddy there. Erik wants to marry Ariel even without her voice – ok, that makes him a bit less shallow, but then you’ve got the Ursula problem. I have it on excellent authority that the ending will definitely change for NY. It will be more “spectacular.” I don’t know if that means the rumors are true that they are trying to blow up Ursula to replicate the movie plot but the whole “smash the shell” thing is odd and sort of anti-climactic.

Oh, and if Disney folks really are reading these boards, please bring back Max the Dog. Lots of kids in the audience were asking about him. I can’t believe they could not bring in some humor and have an actor do some cute stuff like Chad Kimball in Into the Woods. Oh, and please bring back Triton’s rainbow at the end. Kids expect that, too.

We did stage door. Not a lot of people came out because it was a matinee, and if they did they were very rushed because it’s such a short break between shows. Tituss was delightful. Norm, OMG, not just hot but so sweet and kind. And so tall! He’s just dreamy and again, he is underused and deserves better. He talked to everyone in depth and took pictures and was just generally delicious. A few ensemble members came out and were also sweet. Robert Creighton was fantastic – he plays one of the seagulls and understudies Scuttle. A big talent and a lovely, wonderful guy.

Ultimately I think it’s going to be savaged by critics and do very well at the box office. Pretty standard for a Disney show, imho.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 3:49pm

Based on that review, I bet it's going to be something I will like, and will largely make up for TARZAN (and I usually like Disney shows).

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/21/07 at 3:59pm

Did they put in the "pin her tail to the floor" comment after "Under the Sea"? I have read here that they don't include it. I thought that was cute in the movie (Which I just watched) but have seen the under the sea clip for forever.

Updated On: 8/21/07 at 03:59 PM