See the Cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID Fly at Paper Mill Playhouse!

Honestly, I don't think it looks that much better. The costumes aren't that effective either in my opinion. But we'll see. I'm sure they will get better with it as time goes on I felt the same way about the European productions. They got much better at the flying.

And yeah, that has to be insanely difficult.

^ That last part. Amen.

People, it's a rehearsal.

So, I'm guessing when the license for TLM comes out (who knows when?), the newest version will be the one?

Being put on a harness and "swimming" around is better than using heelys, but I worry that it might be too difficult for them to sing. I don't like the costumes at all. They look like they're wearing gowns rather than fish tails....

I heard they were going to spray paint the actors with Rustoleum and throw glitter at them so they look like sparklie wet fish. Give the costume designers a chance. lol

Little Mermaid has such amazing potential but every mounting Disney produces seems to really really stink. Honestly, I've preferred the Broadway disaster and European production compared to the US versions so far.

I'm noting that for the second time Grove's ariel costume is a one piece.... I disapprove.

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It was filmed while WE WERE IN TECH!

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Hmmm. I like it more that the heelies. I will wait to comment on the set and overall quality until we see a preview of the show actually in production with complete lights, costumes, and sets. I saw Jessica Grove in The Wizard of Oz tour back in 1999... I will always remember thinking I would be seeing her name again. Good for her! She will be great.

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My only issue is with the costumes. I think they either need to go with just tails or just the flowing skirts to represent tails. The front tail isn't connected to the automated rig and just kind of lays there. I think the swimming would be more impressive with just the flow of the fabric. It would make a really clear distinction between the humans and the mermaids, as well. Obliviously, it's not the finished product yet. I just kept looking at the tail in the front that didn't move rather than the part in the back that did.

How will they do a seagull tap number if the seagulls are going to fly? Are they getting rid of the song and dance number from the Broadway production that caused me to hold in laughter until my stomach hurt? I can only hope.

trent,
Your post confuses me.. what tail attached to the flying rig are you talking about?
No tail is connected to the rig in the video.. all of the tails are all essentially just the flowing skirt that you describe. Each of the actors shown is wearing what is commonly called a somersault harness with a wire attached at each hip.. no attachment to the tails.
The difference that you are seeing is what they are doing in the video...

It can not be pointed out enough that this is an very early flying rehearsal for a very complex production and the this just an initial flying rehearsal.. The focus is on getting the actors and crew comfortable with the rig, getting the actors comfortable being in the air and feeling secure in the space and learning the basic flying 'vocabulary' that will be used for the production.
This is one of the first times that the actors are working on mastering the undulating swim motion for the tails that Mr Rubin describes in the clip. That is hard enough lying forward in the rig, let alone backward, which clearly they are not trying to master yet when this was filmed. They are working on maintaining the posture of lying back without flipping..


Now, as far as seagulls go.. yes, they will probably fly.. but they will also land.. and even then, perhaps it would not be a tap number.
Even as far as the mermaids go, there will be flight, but they will also land and spend time on the stage as well.. they won't have the full cast of sea creatures airborne..