#1
Posted: 8/7/07 at 1:32pm
I went to see The Little Mermaid in Denver on Aug 3. It was a good show, but not up to Disney par yet. If anything, it reminded me of Tarzan. Warning, if you don't like spoilers, don't read ahead!!!!
Things I liked:
*The costumes (most of them) were stunning. Ursula's took the cake, however. Her dresses with the tenticles were very creative. The mermaid tails attached to the skirts didn't really bother me, but I had read some reviews so I was prepared. The fish costumes in 'Under the Sea' were nothing special. They consisted mostly of black light paint. The sea gulls costumes were just ridiculous. Big clown shoes, these grey like gacho pants and a bird beak hat. They just looked stupid.
* Most of the cast. Norm was a great Triton, but I wished he had a bigger part. Sierra and Sherie did very well, but they didn't seem "on". Sherrie, for one, actually looked like she'd rather be somewhere else through the whole show. I don't know if she was having a bad day or she just doesn't like the show, but I've seen her before and she sparkles. I know this is a "mean" role, but she wasn't giving it her all.
*Kiss the Girl. It was the best song in the show. It was done very well with the birds flying. The backup singing should be louder though.
*Flotsum and Jetsum. 2 cool guys. They were more snakelike than eels, but they were a fun bunch.
*Flounder. Man, that boy can sing! J.J has an amazing voice and he rocked the house for "She's in love".
Didn't like:
*The change in story line just didn't go. There wasn't really a climax. It was pretty stupid how Eric choose Ariel because of her dancing and then poof! he kissed her and her voice is back I also didn't understand Ursula and Triton being on dry land. They need to change it and keep it similar to the movie with Ursula changing into Vanessa and the big sea battle.
*Sierra needs to work on her acting. She sounds just like Ariel, but some time she just give these blank stares. Amazing job on "Part of this World", but she just sat there the whole time and moved her arms. The directors need to give her something to do. Also, my cousin, whom I saw the show with, was devistated that she didn't do the hair flip when she emerged from the water as human.
*Under the Sea. It sucked. It reminded me of "Waiting For This Moment" from Tarzan. It is suck a great number, but it wasn't all that. It needs to be like "Be Our Guest". There was no dancing, the actors just kind of stood around singing while Sebastian moved around.
* 'Les Poissons'. Cute number, but sounds almost exactly like "Be Our Guest'.
*Heelies and black lights. I got sick of all the black light usage. It made the show very campy and it didn't make the costumes look any better. The heelies were okay, but they actors had to take steps every couple of seconds to get the back gliding again. It kind of ruined the flow. I think they should use both heelies and wires to get a real swimming feel.
*Songs. The song "Positoovity" sung by Scuttle didn't need to be in there. It pretty much showed off Eddie Korbich's taping skills. I did love the 'If Only/Her Voice' quartet. It was haunting. I liked the dancing to communicate idea and the song was pretty good, but they need a better dance to Ariel.
*Sets. There weren't really any sets. They had these 2 (they looked like beer bongs as one of my friends put it) sets pieces that actors could lay on that moved them up and down to appear to be swimming or flying. They also used these set pieces in Price Eric's castle. They didn't do anything. Also the sets mostly consisted on computer bubbles when the cast was under the sea.
*Wow factor. There was nothing that was really amazing that took my breath away. BB, Lion King, and Tarzan both had an amazing opening number. Mermaid doesn't. 'Fathom's below' just isn't awe-inspiring. It was cool to see the fish swimming around and then the ship to come down from the ceiling, but give the audience more time to register that we are under the sea before lowering the ship. I found myself drifting away the first 30 minutes of the show and I never do that.
The Little Mermaid was entertaining, but it's no where near the Disney quality we usually expect. It was more like "The Little Mermaid" show at MGM in Orlando with a little more bite than a pre-Broadway show. This is my opinion and I didn't mind if people differ. I think it's a good show, but it needs to change a lot before it comes to Broadway. I think it had the potentional to be great, but needs some work.:)
Things I liked:
*The costumes (most of them) were stunning. Ursula's took the cake, however. Her dresses with the tenticles were very creative. The mermaid tails attached to the skirts didn't really bother me, but I had read some reviews so I was prepared. The fish costumes in 'Under the Sea' were nothing special. They consisted mostly of black light paint. The sea gulls costumes were just ridiculous. Big clown shoes, these grey like gacho pants and a bird beak hat. They just looked stupid.
* Most of the cast. Norm was a great Triton, but I wished he had a bigger part. Sierra and Sherie did very well, but they didn't seem "on". Sherrie, for one, actually looked like she'd rather be somewhere else through the whole show. I don't know if she was having a bad day or she just doesn't like the show, but I've seen her before and she sparkles. I know this is a "mean" role, but she wasn't giving it her all.
*Kiss the Girl. It was the best song in the show. It was done very well with the birds flying. The backup singing should be louder though.
*Flotsum and Jetsum. 2 cool guys. They were more snakelike than eels, but they were a fun bunch.
*Flounder. Man, that boy can sing! J.J has an amazing voice and he rocked the house for "She's in love".
Didn't like:
*The change in story line just didn't go. There wasn't really a climax. It was pretty stupid how Eric choose Ariel because of her dancing and then poof! he kissed her and her voice is back I also didn't understand Ursula and Triton being on dry land. They need to change it and keep it similar to the movie with Ursula changing into Vanessa and the big sea battle.
*Sierra needs to work on her acting. She sounds just like Ariel, but some time she just give these blank stares. Amazing job on "Part of this World", but she just sat there the whole time and moved her arms. The directors need to give her something to do. Also, my cousin, whom I saw the show with, was devistated that she didn't do the hair flip when she emerged from the water as human.
*Under the Sea. It sucked. It reminded me of "Waiting For This Moment" from Tarzan. It is suck a great number, but it wasn't all that. It needs to be like "Be Our Guest". There was no dancing, the actors just kind of stood around singing while Sebastian moved around.
* 'Les Poissons'. Cute number, but sounds almost exactly like "Be Our Guest'.
*Heelies and black lights. I got sick of all the black light usage. It made the show very campy and it didn't make the costumes look any better. The heelies were okay, but they actors had to take steps every couple of seconds to get the back gliding again. It kind of ruined the flow. I think they should use both heelies and wires to get a real swimming feel.
*Songs. The song "Positoovity" sung by Scuttle didn't need to be in there. It pretty much showed off Eddie Korbich's taping skills. I did love the 'If Only/Her Voice' quartet. It was haunting. I liked the dancing to communicate idea and the song was pretty good, but they need a better dance to Ariel.
*Sets. There weren't really any sets. They had these 2 (they looked like beer bongs as one of my friends put it) sets pieces that actors could lay on that moved them up and down to appear to be swimming or flying. They also used these set pieces in Price Eric's castle. They didn't do anything. Also the sets mostly consisted on computer bubbles when the cast was under the sea.
*Wow factor. There was nothing that was really amazing that took my breath away. BB, Lion King, and Tarzan both had an amazing opening number. Mermaid doesn't. 'Fathom's below' just isn't awe-inspiring. It was cool to see the fish swimming around and then the ship to come down from the ceiling, but give the audience more time to register that we are under the sea before lowering the ship. I found myself drifting away the first 30 minutes of the show and I never do that.
The Little Mermaid was entertaining, but it's no where near the Disney quality we usually expect. It was more like "The Little Mermaid" show at MGM in Orlando with a little more bite than a pre-Broadway show. This is my opinion and I didn't mind if people differ. I think it's a good show, but it needs to change a lot before it comes to Broadway. I think it had the potentional to be great, but needs some work.:)
