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

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 2:59pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=507564

Looks far better than the heelys fiasco. But as Grove said, this can't be very easy when trying to support your vocals.



Updated On: 5/24/13 at 02:59 PM

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:05pm

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.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:07pm

That is a much better concept than those stupid Heelys. I agree about being dubious on how the vocals will sound.

My main question is why King Triton (I'm assuming) is dressed like Carmen Miranda. That looks nothing like a mermaid tail.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:09pm

^ That last part. Amen.

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:14pm

I sure hope the set isn't done. I see we've gone from plastic to paper.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:14pm

People, it's a rehearsal.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:29pm

No way! Who would have thought to use this technique?!?!

I was thinking the same thing Clyde...but that Norm Lewis must be jealous he isn't in that costume now!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:52pm

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

[dreaming]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 3:59pm

This looks way better than the Broadway production. It's gorgeous. I am looking forward to seeing it.

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:12pm

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....

[Hex3]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:14pm

I doubt these are the final costumes. I'm sure the costumer is also using this opportunity to see what works and what doesn't.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:17pm

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

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:38pm

"My main question is why King Triton (I'm assuming) is dressed like Carmen Miranda. That looks nothing like a mermaid tail."

NOT Carmen Miranda! I can't take, no. That made my day!

[Starship]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 4:44pm

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.

[Hex3]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 5:02pm

So what you're saying is that you like the Broadway and European productions of The Little Mermaid more than the 3 minutes that you've seen of fly tests from the Paper Mill production?



Updated On: 5/24/13 at 05:02 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 5:18pm

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

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:20pm

I'm not sure when this was filmed (it seems like tech week, so I'd imagine in the past few days), but they go up in less than a week. Paper Mill is probably having a preview this Tuesday, too. Unless they really took their time editing this video, I'm a little disappointed so far with what we're seeing, in terms of production. Yes, it's a rehearsal, but the quality does not seem that different from Broadway, and there's not much they can really change at this point. But I'll wait and see, who knows...

Updated On: 5/24/13 at 06:20 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:32pm

It was filmed while WE WERE IN TECH!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 6:36pm

I'll point out that it wasn't just A rehearsal, it was the FIRST flying rehearsal. With the flying choreography being fully automated I'm guessing they got them into the theater to begin working on it well before they got into the actual tech.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 7:37pm

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.

[Starship]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 7:39pm

@Hex3 - I never said that. I said I like the mentioned productions better than the US productions SO FAR (Wichita, Tuacahan, Sacramento).

[trentsketch]

Posted: 5/24/13 at 11:29pm

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.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/25/13 at 12:00am

I like to live in a world where Positoovity doesn't exist.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/25/13 at 1:47am

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..

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/25/13 at 3:41am

I think the problem with the flying is it becomes sort of like "Why isn't everyone swimming?" Surely they can't afford to have the entire cast on wires. Also, it really tries the actors stamina to be able to sing like that. Granted they aren't the most difficult songs for anyone besides Ariel, but still.