My Mermaid review!!! (1/14)

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 7:14pm

I finally saw Mermaid today, SRO at the 3:00pm performance. No understudies, and I saw JJ as Flounder. I have to begin this by saying I'm a huge fan of TLM movie and Disney in general, as well as a fan of George Tsypin's (set designer's) work. I thought the show was fabulous. I really didn't have a problem with any of the things that the other posters are having issues with.

I thought the design was simple, yet innovative and was a great use of an unexpected material. The costumes and set all seemed to have a common thread of being irridescent, translucent with a bit of fussy 'art nouveau' detail in them. Natasha Katz lighting truly made the set and costumes blend together beautifully. The use of bold color in this production has really paid off. The costumes were very well done, and I really like how we never lost sight of the person within a costume. The new spiral-ly mermaid tails seem to have much better movement to them, and Sierra is really getting good at using hers as an extension of her body. Also, I thought the use of video projection was fantastic and really enhanced the watery feel. Others have posted that they felt a lack of magic in the show, but I thought the whole sea-storm/drowning scene more than fit the bill.

Sierra Boggess made Ariel a real person, which deserves major props. Sherie Rene was amazing, as always. I really loved Titus' performance, and his line in "If Only" ('i'd give my life to make it so') was truly touching. I was a bit underwhelmed by Norm Lewis, I have to say. He seemed so stiff and uncaring, that it made ime wonder why Ariel would love her father so much. I saw JJ as Flounder and liked him very much. He appeared a tad too old for the role, but he made the costume (the oversized t-shirt) make sense. Flounder is now a cute, hip-hop inspired tween, with a little bit of attitude to go with it.

I thought the new songs were more than adequate, with a couple being outstanding (If Only, She's In Love). I thought the orchestrations were great and very powerful, and I loved the new Mardi-Gras/Carnival feel to Under The Sea.

And now for my (small) list of complaints: Ursula's demise was a bit lucklaster, and came about so suddenly that it felt a touch awkward. Norm Lewis and Sean Palmer seemed to be the odd ones out in the cast - both seemed to be giving very 2-dimensional and cartoony interpretations. I totally agree that it is very strange that Ariel can stand tall and wave her arms at the end of Act 1, and yet can barely stand at all for the beginning of Act 2.

Is this production ridiculous, over-the-top, and a tad cheesy at times? Yes, but this is a fairy tale, and I think 95% of the show worked wonderfully. Go see it!

Updated On: 1/14/08 at 07:14 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 7:16pm

I enjoyed the design of the show very much.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 7:36pm

Thanks for your review! Sounds like you had a great time! I agree, the costumes are beautiful!

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:25pm

I totally agree that it is very strange that Ariel can stand tall and wave her arms at the end of Act 1, and yet can barely stand at all for the beginning of Act 2.

What do you mean?

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:28pm

As the curtain goes down on Act 1, Ariel stands up on her legs, and waves her arms in the air with no trouble; yet, at the beginning of Act 2, she can barely stand up at all.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:31pm

I totally agree, Brian. That is a flaw. I think her head should just come up and she should flip her hair at the end of Act 1, but not stand up. This way, when she isn't really able to walk at the beginning of Act 2, it will be more consistent.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:33pm

100% agreed!

[PotO2]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:35pm

I don't know, I took her waving her arms as an, "Oh crap, I'm falling over!" kind of thing. I just assumed she did after the curtain went down.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:35pm

I just wish the transformations were more...magical. Both of them were a little on the lame side. Other than that, I enjoyed it a lot.

Updated On: 1/13/08 at 09:35 PM

[dshnookie]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:36pm

Well the whole point of that little scene that ends Act I is to reveal that she has legs now. Her popping her head out of the water wouldnt have been enough - she had been to the surface before. In all fairness, she takes two steps as the curtain falls in front of her - it's not like she was doing laps and cartwheels. I really didnt have a problem or see any really major consistency issues with it.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:37pm

i thought it was more magical than random rainbow disco lights shining on the beast during hiss transformation. I thought the use of wire in the show was tasteful and well-done.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:41pm

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

I am not a fan of LM (the movie) but heard an interview w/Sherie and she won me over.

I'm taking my two kids in Feb (aged 7 & 11). The next day we're seeing Hairspray (which we were SUPPOSE to see the day the strike happened--remember the strike?) I hope we enjoy it too.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:44pm

Maybe it was the WAY too obvious use of body doubles in them... I don't know. Hello, NO ONE is going to believe they got from the rafters to the stage in one second. But the whole kick, kick oops it's fallen off thing was...not good. And the second? Her sisters skating around her to remove it??? UGH.

With the drowning scene, jaystarr and I looked at each other and said "Coram Boy!!" That was straight out of Coram Boy. Or looked to be.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the show. I just think it was missing something... For me anyway.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:46pm

the kick thing didn't bother me, ....but YES that whole thing with her sister ripping off the tale was pretty bad, wasn't it? Give us some smoke or lighting or something!!!

[PotO2]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 9:51pm

That is one thing I just didn't understand. Some of the things (like the transformations) just seemed so bare! C'mon, use some smoke people! It's a quick, easy fix.

[dshnookie]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 10:06pm

Ok, I have to admit the transformation back into a human was the effect that didnt work the best, but in all fairness the focal point of that scene was Triton. He was still singing his reprise while she was being transformed. I sat in ROW C so I figured that it wouldnt be as noticeable from further back, I guess I was wrong =
Updated On: 1/13/08 at 10:06 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 10:11pm

I was in the mid mezz ~ on that side (with the sisters and ripping the tail off), so it was pretty noticeable.

And I was just thinking about the ending of Act I/beginning of Act II. Perhaps...just a guess here... At the end when she stood up it was one of those moments of sheer excitement that she had legs, but we can then imagine her immediately falling down when the reality of it and her not knowing how to use them sunk in. Kind of like how it's not uncommon for people to trip if they suddenly start thinking about how they walk. Maybe? Like she was so excitedf she had them she didn't think for a minute, but then she realized she did and had no clue how they worked in reality.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 10:13pm

that's true Jordangirl, and now that i think about it, she does stand up for a moment before falling in the movie, right?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 10:17pm

I think so. A lot like her attempts in the first part of Act II. But I could (ok, yes, this sounds weird) see how if you hadn't had legs and then did standing up before you remembered you didn't know how they worked.

[zepka102]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:03pm

I saw it last night, and I loved it. It was better than some people on here and critics let on, everything from costumes to sets, to lighting... it also is an extremely talented cast.


Our Flounder was Cody Hanford. However, we noticed he was crying quite a bit at curtain call. We were confused about it all, but we thought we heard Norm Lewis at the stage door telling someone it was his last performance as Flounder. I should probably do a search on it, but has anyone else heard that? Is he going on to something else?

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:05pm

Can you actually plainly see her sisters rip off the tail or is it just obvious that that's what they're doing when they surround her?

[dinglehopper89]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:07pm

zepka102-yes it was his last show. Today (the 13th) was JJ Singleton's last performance. That is why they had casted the other two flounders, Brian and Trevor. JJ and Cody were getting to tall for the part and their voice were starting to change.

I know JJ is doing another show called '13' or something and I believe Cody is going to work on promoting a movie or making a movie-something to do with a movie

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:10pm

i could clearly see her rip it off

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:10pm

The transformations didn't bother me nearly as much as the bizarre, "Let's bring our two worlds together for one night!" ending. Triton's line in that scene is beyond cheesy.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 11:12pm

yes i agree with that as well....a bit over-the-top