Sheri Rene Scott as Ursula

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 1:53pm

I am disgusted with Sheri Rene Scott as Ursula. I can't understand her characterization of this seemily classic villain.

Up and down and back and forth between accents and vibrato with no real sense of what kind of character she is trying to portray. Is Ursula British or is she a Jewish mother from Brooklyn. I had to press skip, half way through her song "Good Times" because I felt like i was listening to Rosie O'Donnell singing.

I am not sure if this was her choice or she was directed in this direction, either way it is such a dissapointment especially when Ursula is such a great and easy character to create for the stage.

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 1:59pm

I have to say, I did notice the back and forth quite a bit. I get what you're saying here.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 2:10pm

I agree.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 2:15pm

spacedog - I totally respect your opinion,but i LOVE sherie's interpretation. If you've ever met a big Diva-ish actress, you'll know how they love to 'show off' and bring out their characters from past movies/shows. I viewed Sherie's Ursula's as a sort of "norma desmond" faded movie star, bringing out her different characters at different moments.

And I'm sorry, but if anyone tries to compare her singing voice to Rosie, I will go carnival-freak-show on them.

[MagicalMusical]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 2:36pm

I agree that Ursula works as someone so theatrical she likes acting different ways all the time, even like different people all the time.

Pat Carroll said, "I (saw Ursula as this) ex-Shakespearean actress who now sold cars." She also deepened her voice for the role, and they "sharpened and heightened" her voice, particularly the singing. She said she was not really a singer and would have prefered to talk-sing. But that just shows how incredibly dedicated she was.

Also, she loved the way Sherie played Ursula after seeing her (I think opening night)and said she would have loved to sing a song like "I Want The Good Times Back" in the film.

[James885]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 2:43pm

I like Sherie Rene Scott on the recording. I haven't seen her live in TLM, but her Poor Unfortunate Souls is certainly a much different take on the song than Pat Carroll's, which isn't a bad thing at all. I did notice that she did seem to wander in and out of a NY-ish accent at times. I thought I Want The Good Times Back was fabulous and one of the very few memorable new songs on the recording.

Updated On: 3/2/08 at 02:43 PM

[emmadny]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 2:51pm

I LOVE sherie's interpretation.
Sierra and she, the best of the show

[skibumb5290]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 3:15pm

I have to disagree I saw her in DENVER and she I thought that she played a PERFECT Ursula

[EvanK]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 3:36pm

I love that she did something different from the movie. It was a risk, and I love it!!

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 4:51pm

I definately can see what you are saying, but I kind of like it. I didn't at first (it got on my nerves) but then it grew on me and now I think it's really funny. Instead of just being pure evil, it makes Ursula more campy and she becomes a rounder character for it. Try listening to it again. Maybe you'll change your mind...

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 5:01pm

I must have missed the past movies and shows that Ursula ( the character ) was in, can someone fill me in?

Updated On: 3/2/08 at 05:01 PM

[wicked91]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 5:02pm

I'll have to agree with you, because I also thought she didn't sound too great on the cast recording. But live...she is AMAZING!

[dshnookie]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 7:34pm

Initially, I hated her interpretation but now I absolutely love it. I think she does a great job at emphasizing certain words and points in the song with her changes in accents. One example that sticks out is in Poor Unfortunate Souls when she says, "I'm not asking for much", almost sounds mafia-like and then the "Only" that follows is very playful and deceptive as if to throw Ariel off track and she brings it home with the "your voice". All three are said very differently but it works incredibly well.

You can also hear these 3 sharp changes in 1. You'll have your looks... 2. and don't underestimate the power of (which is very playful) 3. and then sticks it with "body language"

Her "Make your choice!" is just great too.

Surprisingly, I've sympathized with Ursula's character in the show - mostly from that one publicity image that Disney released with Sherie looking up above with her tentacles fully extended behind her. I've asked myself why Disney would take a photo like that with that kind of expression on Ursula's face, very sad and yet hopeful. Disney probably only released such an image to show off the costume, but I think more can be read into it. I almost see Ursula as being on her last tentacle sort of speak, trying to scrape by and survive - which is why she conceives that scheme to get Triton's power. Almost like this is her last chance, and perhaps her changes in accents reflects this in a way that she doesn't want to appear weak both in front of Ariel/Triton or her minions Flotsam and Jetsam and is almost playing with these different personalities in order to find which is most convincing. I love Disney because none of the so-called "villains" are inherently evil. I've never seen The Lion King, but I know in Beauty and the Beast, and TLM Gaston and Ursula (at least when I saw them) they both got one of the loudest applauses and I think that says something about a humanity that people see in these characters.

I'm sure no one will read all of that, and I cant believe I tried to analyze Disney but that's what I think :)

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 7:39pm

Surprisingly, I've sympathized with Ursula's character in the show - mostly from that one publicity image that Disney released with Sherie looking up above with her tentacles fully extended behind her. I've asked myself why Disney would take a photo like that with that kind of expression on Ursula's face, very sad and yet hopeful. Disney probably only released such an image to show off the costume, but I think more can be read into it

Agreed! I keep seeing that photo as peoples' avatar and am stopped dead in my tracks at how beautiful it is.

I was actually going to try and find somewhere to post about it because she looks like a "silver screen goddess" in that photo! Very Norma Desmond

Anyone have the full-unaltered shot they could post?
Updated On: 3/2/08 at 07:39 PM

[dshnookie]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:12pm

I know the official site for the show http://disney.go.com/theatre/thelittlemermaid/ has a wallpaper version of it under fun stuff.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:14pm

I get what you're saying, but I still adore her!

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:16pm

mmmm love it

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:20pm

Wow, that picture is great!

[Zeitoujo]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:36pm

the show is a mess. i hated it. it is awful. end of story. what a waste of money. dare i say i enjoyed tarzan more. i hope mermaid closes.

[East Village]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:40pm

Disgusted by Sheri. OMG do enjoy like kicking puppies too?

[logan0215]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:51pm

Who is "Sheri" anyway?

Sherie Rene Scott's u/s who couldn't afford the 3rd vowel? Updated On: 3/2/08 at 08:51 PM

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 3/2/08 at 8:57pm

The whole problem here is that there will always be this extreme, almost "protectionist", difference of opinion between those who are fans of Sherie and those who are fans of Ursula.

Truth be told, the two are miles apart.

If you were a fan of Urusula as a classic Disney villain, you are probably going to hate the portrayal of her in the Broadway musical - even if you love Sherie as a person and in her other roles.

Sadly, she's taking home the paycheck for interpreting Ursula each week, so she has to take some of the criticism.

Count me among the Ursula fans who loves Sherie, but is very disappointed in the character she plays on stage in the Little Mermaid. It's not the Ursula I know and love to watch make small children cry! HAHA!

Updated On: 3/2/08 at 08:57 PM

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:49pm

Just to bump this thread up - last night, Cecily Daniels performed "Poor Unfortunate Souls" at the At This Performance concert, and I was blown away. She brought back more of the sexy dark Ursula that's so powerful in the movie. She doesn't know of any dates she may be going on yet, but keep a lookout on BroadwayUnderstudies.com.

[trinaaron]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 5:59pm

I posted this on another thread, but I will post it here too.

One of my third grade students saw TLM over the weekend and all she could talk about was Ursula. She was actually upset with the ending. I love the fact that Sherie can turn a princess-loving 8 year old against Ariel.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/10/08 at 6:08pm

I thought her very different portrayal worked quite well. I also immediately thought of Norma Desmond while watching her. Sherie remains far and away the best reason to see this show (Sierra is also fabulous).