THE LITTLE MERMAID Dutch Cast Recording

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 2:25pm

Apparently there was a live cast recording made of the Dutch production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. Audio is floating around on YouTube, no pun intended.

The Overture is SO MUCH BETTER! It could use a little more "Under the Sea," though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xRBZefTQZQ&list=PLA3DC04D8B39C9DC9


The orchestrations have been VASTLY improved as well. "Under the Sea" now sounds like the showstopper it should be.

Bravo Disney and Alan Menken! I WANT this Cast Recording.


Updated On: 12/6/12 at 02:25 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 2:54pm

I like the Broadway Overture better.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 3:03pm

They both drag in certain areas, but I like the orchestrations for this one better, and I like how they wove in "If Only" and "The World Above," especially since the latter is the song that opens the show now instead of "Fathoms Below." I'm also glad they removed "Les Poissons" from the Overture. That didn't need to be in there.

Also, the new orchestrations for "Part of Your World (Reprise)," especially at the end, are chilling.

Plus, you can hear the new teenage baritone Flounder on "She's in Love."



Updated On: 12/6/12 at 03:03 PM

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 12/6/12 at 9:30pm

Any opinions on the recording?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/7/12 at 2:42am

So is this the production coming to Papermill?

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 12/9/12 at 2:32pm

I doubt this will be the "production" you see at Paper Mill unless Disney throws some serious buck behind it like they did NEWSIES, essentially creating a Broadway show at Paper Mill. But I do think this is the score you will hear at Paper Mill, which is exciting in itself that this score will be finally coming to the states.

[equisy]

Posted: 12/11/12 at 11:04am

In January 2012, the Moscow production of The Little Mermaid (the same as the Dutch one) is releasing a Russian cast album recorded in studio :)

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 12:13am

Nice! Do you know any specific date in January?

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 1:59pm

I'm really interested in seeing what Paper Mill will do with the production design. I hope they do something new and innovative in regards to the mermaids and especially Ursula. I just don't think that anybody has really gotten it right yet.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 2:52pm

I hate to something's impossible to stage, but every version so far has terrible designs on every level. I think it's time to throw in the towel, or let Cirque have a crack at it, and put people in the air like they should have to begin with. Rollerblades were a ridiculous concept.

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/2/13 at 7:11pm

The Little Mermaid is not impossible to stage. It just needs a director with vision and creativity. Two things that were COMPLETELY lacking in the broadway production. Like I said, I hope that we can get it with the Paper Mill production.

[equisy]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 2:50am

According to Stage Entertainment Russia Facebook page the Moscow Cast Recording of The Little Mermaid is now available only in the theatre shop. I hope it will be online soon.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 10:39am

"I hate to something's impossible to stage, but every version so far has terrible designs on every level."

What gives with all the hate on the design level for this show? Both iterations have had some cool design ideas, the big problem with the show is that it is pretty terrible. Ariel's arc is still pathetic and the singing contest is absolutely unforgivable.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 10:46am

i don't think either production's design was a total disaster, but it was definitely flawed. TLM is no more impossible to stage than The Lion King or even Peter and the Starcatcher. I'm very excited to see what Paper Mill comes up with...anyone know who the creatives are behind the set/costume/lighting?

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 1:18pm

Ariel's arc is no worse than that of any other Disney Princess. However, you are ABSOLUTELY correct regarding that God-Awful singing contest. Changing the last third of the film was, as you put it, unforgivable. That finale could have been epic on stage. Does anyone here know exactly who's idea that was? Did I hear that Francesca asked to have the ending simplified because she just didn't know what to do about a giant Ursula? I used to have a mutual friend in the show that would tell me some horror stories about the production. It was usually over drinks so my memory's a little fuzzy.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 1:36pm

I agree completely. The singing contest was absolutely unwarranted and ridiculous. I can't believe that was even approved.

There is a good version of this show - someone just has to find it. It could be a spectacle.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 5:30pm

"There is a good version of this show - someone just has to find it. It could be a spectacle."

Well get rid of the "love at first site" bull****, give some real issues (an arc) and trash most of the songs.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 6:11pm

And put All Good Things Must End back in

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 6:30pm

Changing the "love at first sight" aspect changes it down to the original Hans Christian Anderson story. If you don't like "love at first sight" then I suggest that you stay away from faerie tales all together and A LOT of theater for that matter because you are going to be horribly disappointed. But hey, you can always write your own story about a mermaid falling in love with a human prince over a reasonable period of time. I'm sure it will be riveting.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/3/13 at 6:41pm

I'd love to hear the vocals from the original cast recording with the orchestrations of this Dutch recording... sounds so much better and fuller! I listen to the cast recording sometimes, but after the Overture the music just doesn't have the same essence. IDK if it's the orchestrations or what, but I bet it sounded better in the theatre than on the recording.

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 12:40am

On another note: When do you all think that the amateur rights will be released? Also, will the Paper Mill production be the US premier of the reworked script?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 1:29am

I know right now lots of companies are doing the JR version and adding songs from the musical. Mostly youth theatre, plus a community college or two in the area.

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 11:06am

At this point I wouldn't be surprised if Disney is holding the right to The Little Mermaid because they are going t do an arena show of the musical "On Ice". Despite the shows flaws most agree that the show has one of the most beautiful scores of all time and Disney does not want the show get into another's hands until they know that there is nothing they can do to fix it.

[Hex3]

Posted: 1/6/13 at 3:22pm

I agree the score is beautiful. I remember when I saw it on broadway, I actually closed my eyes during some bits so that I could just listen to the music without having to see all the mess that was happening onstage.

But do you really think Disney would try and turn the full stage musical into one of it's "On Ice" shows or were you just being facetious?

If Disney actually wants to salvage this show in any way, I think that they should just release the rights. That way they will be raking in the cash from the slew of productions that will be popping up across the country. And then maybe in a couple of years, they can retool the second act, get a competent production team, pull the rights and start a touring company of the new show.

Will that ever happen? Probably not. But a little wishful thinking never hurt anybody...

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/7/13 at 3:00am

They wouldn't hold the rights because of a Disney On Ice show - otherwise there wouldn't have been Beauty and the Beast On Ice when the rights were first released. Plus, they had a Little Mermaid On Ice around 2001. I remember seeing it

If they release the rights, maybe a larger regional company can retool it and redesign it in hopes of a national tour down the road, maybe even Broadway 5-10 years from now.