THE LITTLE MERMAID - 1/25/09 - Sherie Rene Scott's Final Performance

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:41pm

Let me preface my revivew with the fact that today was my seventh time seeing THE LITTLE MERMAID. Despite the negative reviews from critics, I love this show so much and was proud to have seen Sherie as Ursula seven times. I saw the show five times in previews, once on opening weekend and then today (a year in between the last time I had seen the show). I had been hearing negative reports about Sherie walking through, and frankly, I'm glad I never got to see one of those performances. Everyone was giving it their all today and it was a very nice sendoff for her.

I did not care much for Sean Palmer when I first saw him (six times), but I feel like he has improved considerably. I really enjoyed his performance today. "Her Voice" and "One Step Closer" were gorgeous. I also didn't care much for Norm Lewis' performance at first, but today, I really enjoyed him. He made the most of his small role and stood out.

While Eddie Korbich's songs are still dreadful, he makes the most of them and got a lot of laughs out of the audience. Alan Mingo Jr. was on for Rogelio Douglas Jr. as Sebastian, and did an excellent job. I loved his acting, but I missed the optional high notes that Titus Burgess so brilliantly hit. I also loved Tyler Maynard and Eric LaJuan Summers as Flotsam and Jetsam...Tyler has improved considerably and Eric filled Derrick Baskin's shoes (fins) well.

Sierra Boggess was as great as I remembered she was. Her "Part of Your World" was stunning and as brilliant as it was in previews. In fact, I loved all of her songs. The one thing I noticed was that a few of the lines seemed a bit rushed compared to what they were a year ago...not sure what that means, but it is what it is. Still, she was fantastic.

Sherie was equally as brilliant in her final performance as Ursula. I was hoping she wouldn't walk through her final performance (as so many board members have been saying she's been walking through), but as I thought, she was spot on. "I Want the Good Times Back" sounded exactly like the cast recording and was wonderful. "Poor Unfortunate Souls" sounded *better* than the cast recording. Sherie was really into it and she held the final note of the song even longer than she usually does. That song got a ton of applause from the audience, and well-deserved! It is unfortunate (haha) that Ursula's character gets so little stage time, but I think Sherie did everything she could with the character and I loved her.

After the curtain call, Sierra gave a lovely speech saying that the audience witnessed something special today - the final performance of Sherie Rene Scott, who originated the role of Ursula. The audience applauded madly. Sherie had tears in her eyes. It was very sweet.

I spoke to Francesca Zambello after the show and raved to her about how much I love the show, have seen it several times, etc etc. I also told her I will be back next week to see Heidi, and Francesca said "Heidi is fantastic."

The show is in great shape and I am looking forward to seeing it for the eighth time next week.

Congrats to Sherie Rene Scott for a successful run in THE LITTLE MERMAID...looking forward to seeing her show at Second Stage in April.

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:45pm

As an unapologetic Mermaid liker (not quite lover), I loved Sherie in the role. She'll be missed, but Heidi will be a great addition to the cast.

Now if only they can get new sets that aren't plastic.

Thanks for the review, WithoutATrace, it was great.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:46pm

That set looks like a shelf full of my bath toys, circa age 3.

I can't wait for Heidi.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:47pm

Nice to hear that you enjoyed the show so much! And it's lovely to know that the original cast members are still going strong. I feel that The Little Mermaid is really underrated, and I loved it when I saw it. Sherie Rene Scott personally wasn't my cup of tea as Ursula, but that's just because I was expecting something more like the character from the film... and I doubt anyone could do that except for possibly Harvey Fierstein!

I agree that the sets are lousy... as are a lot of the costumes. With the obvious exception of Norm Lewis', which I, erm, enjoyed quite a lot.

Updated On: 1/25/09 at 06:47 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:55pm

I'm not really a Mermaid fan, but I would love to see Heidi in this part.

Glad to hear Sherie had a great last show.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 6:59pm

I'm happy Sherie had a nice sendoff.

When did Derek leave? I must have missed that. EDIT: As well as John Treacy Egan? I just looked at the site, while doing so I also noticed Heidi is already on it.

Updated On: 1/25/09 at 06:59 PM

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 7:07pm

I have only seen the show once and it was last summer, and luckily everyone was giving it their all. I too really enjoy this show (except for the sets) and I am happy to read some positive words about it on these boards. Thank you.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 7:10pm

I believe Derrick and John Tracy Egan left around when Titus left (early December). It was not highly publicized.

[shh282]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 7:14pm

Awww. I loved Sherie as Ursula - didn't realize Heidi was joining so soon, I can't even listen to the film soundtrack of Poor Unfortunate Souls anymore.

Post reviews when you see Heidi! Please!

[dg22894]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 7:21pm

Thanks for your review


Someone post a Heidi review when she goes on

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 7:27pm

I won't see Heidi until later in the week next week. I know at least three tossers will be there for her first performance (but they would rave no matter what she did). I do think Heidi's performance as Ursula will be fantastic though.

Ok, off to the Billy Elliot Actor's Fund Performance...back late tonight!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 8:05pm

Thanks for the review, Wat ! Love your passion for the show.

Love it as well, and might be in the minority here, but like it much more than "Shrek".

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 8:20pm

i'm not sure why but apparently derrick left during the week because i went on a friday, November 7th to be exact, and i was talking to his replacement at the stage door and he said that it was his second performance. I was at the perofrmance too. it was brilliant. i'm not sure why but the sound wasnt as loud as usual.. also sierra and sean didn't say two lines in the storm at sea song.. she goes "scuttle watch out!!" but she never said it and sean usually goes "nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo", which he didn't. i was so pleased with sherie. she was brilliant especially in the poor unfortunate soul and its reprise. she nailed the songs. i'm going to miss her and also arbender(who also played his final performace. and without a trace i think i saw u at the stage door.. you were like at the end of it

[mikem]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:08pm

I believe John Treacy Egan also left before Tituss did. (Tituss's last day was Dec 7.) I was there today as well. I had never seen the show before so I do not know what performance levels are typically like, but certainly no one seemed to be sleepwalking through their performance or phoning it in today. Sherie's performance is VERY deadpan, but I think that is a character choice and she definitely did not seem to be phoning it in (she was certainly giving it her all in her singing).

By the way, the stage door guy asked me if I had seen the show that day and then asked if I was planning on selling the autographs on EBay, so apparently that whole thing is still going on. (Although he wasn't obnoxious about it -- he just asked, I said I saw the show that day and was getting the autographs for myself, and that was the end of it.) Sierra, Sherie, and Norm Lewis all didn't come out and Sean Palmer didn't sign for anyone, so I'm not sure what the stage door guy is so worried about, anyway -- it's not like you're going to get a lot of money on EBay for an autographed Little Mermaid Playbill that doesn't contain any of their signatures.

[Bwayfan39]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:14pm

I was at this show as well-and I have seen TLM many times-and this was by far Sherie's best show. I think that Sierra and Sean were off tonight but everyone else was great.

Sierra-I really don't love her, I think that she is good, but I don't think she's great. I feel like her Ariel is very forced sometimes and she always seems a little flat when she sings. Today it seemed that she was having vocal trouble during "Part of Your World".

Sean-I really enjoy his performance, but I feel that over time he has not really gotten better in the role, and his part is extreemely boring-I do however always love the dancing in "One Step Closer"

Norm- I really really LOVE Norm! I wish his part was bigger, but he does the best he can with what he's got. I was happy because today was the fist show I have been to that he has gotten enterance applause-and rightfully so! He was great today-and his voice sounded perfect.

Alan-To be honest, he is my favorite Sabastian...I've seen him 3 times and I really really love him-I am always upset when he doesn't go for the optional high notes-but he really blows me away at every performance.

And now to Sherie-SHe was Phenominal, amazing, every positive adjective and more. I feel like she really put her heart and soul into the performance tonight and she was histerical. Her "I Want the Good TImes Back" was flawless-and she added in some nice interactions with Tyler Maynard and she was very very funny-it seemed like a lot of the time she was playing it to a certain person-maybe her son...during "Poor Unfortunate Souls" she was even more phenomial than every-her final note was at least 2x times the lenght it normally was-and the audience loved it! Everytime she was onstage she lit it up and everyone loved it.

During the curtain call Sherie got HUGE applause and got roses thrown at her (I thought it was very funny that her costume prevented her from picking them all up) and when she went back to hug Sierra, the two of them took the final bow together-it seemed very sentimental and Sierra especially seemed really sad to see Sherie leaving, and Sherie seemed sad as well.

At the stage door, Tyler Maynard, Alan Mingo, Trevor B, Eddie K, and many of the ensemble members came out-Sean P. did as well, but rused away from the crowd even when asked for an autograph--No Sherie or Sierra or Norm, but I did she Kurt and Elijah going into the stagedoor (looking cute as ever) so I assume they were having a party-I was very suprised that Norm didn't come out-each time I've seen it he has....

Anyway, it was a great day at the theater-Sherie will be missed at TLM but I cannot wait for Everyday Raptures in April-it's going to be fabulous!-WithoutaTrace, I saw you at the stagedoor and was extremely jelous you got to meet Francesca, I wanted to call after her, but I was so stuned to see her I forgot her name!-also, did anyone there notice any changes in Act II, I saw at least 2--Sherie's final scene in particular?

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:23pm

Ooh, what changes? For the better? Worse?

[caitlinette]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:44pm

I feel like her Ariel is very forced sometimes

Well, with the dialog she's given and limited character options she might have to force it sometimes.

[Bwayfan39]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:51pm

KirbyCat-

After "Les Poison Reprise" (sp?) there is NO dance secton when the Chef is chasing Sabastian across the stage and eventually stabs himself in the side-it seemed it was all cut...what happened was-the reprise ended, Sabastian was chaced from Stage R to stage Left and then off, and then it went straight into "One Step Closer"

Also, the final scene when Ursula melts-the whole dialogue was different-it seemed entirely centered around NOT killing Ursula-but it seemed that that might have been and add-lib created by Sherie and Sierra-it was very funny and cleaverly done-but when Ursula melts instead of her melting with the Triton in her hand, and King Triton comming from the same trap and grabing it, when Ursual is about to melt, Ariel grabs the triton and the King come on from Stage Left and is handed the Triton by Ariel...

Also the lighting looked different-in a very good way, I thought it was even beter than before-and it was pretty good to begin with...I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't just my mind playing games with me-I've seen the show so many times, I seem to notice every little change-but if Sherie wasn't onstage, there is a possibility I zoned out a little bit, but I don't think I did... :)

[abominableerror]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:53pm

Was this her last last performance, or is she returning after her own show ends?

[Bwayfan39]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 9:55pm

I believe that this was her final performance and she will not be returning after May, but I could be wrong.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:23am

"Also, the final scene when Ursula melts-the whole dialogue was different-it seemed entirely centered around NOT killing Ursula-but it seemed that that might have been and add-lib created by Sherie and Sierra-it was very funny and cleaverly done-but when Ursula melts instead of her melting with the Triton in her hand, and King Triton comming from the same trap and grabing it, when Ursual is about to melt, Ariel grabs the triton and the King come on from Stage Left and is handed the Triton by Ariel..."

I totally noticed this change...wonder when it was implemented...

[Hiloha]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:00pm

Glad I saw it when it first opened!

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 1/26/09 at 7:14pm

Hey, thank you Bwayfan39- it sounds like all of the changes were for teh better. As much as I liked the orchestrations for the Les Poissons Reprise, the scene was definitely over the top and corny.