THE LITTLE MERMAID Reviews- Page 6

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:08am

Well, I loved Sherie but, for the record, she scared the daylights out of my kids. My daughter was actually crying she found Sherie so scary. So we adults might not think she was devilish enough, but, let's face it, Disney doesn't care what "adults" think...unless they are also parents who think, "What can I take my kids to see? Oh, look, THE LITTLE MERMAID! Perfect!"

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:10am

ljay-

You're right, it's not identical to the FILM character, but I just feel like the role is still there. She's still this sassy, brassy witch in the underwater world. Most of the lines are there and it could be argued that there's even more character motivation now that they've mentioned a backstory (being Triton's sister, getting banished from the kingdom). I'm sorry, I never meant to imply that Ursula has some incredible journey and subtext to work with like the roles you mentioned, but I feel like the character sure does offer a lot.

It really is subjective, isn't it because while I loved her vocals, she bored me in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. And yet, I DO see her as a good fit for the witch in Into the Woods. That's a part that would suit her well.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:10am

H.Higgins, I have to disagree with you. For someone who has Sweeney Todd and My Fair Lady listed as two of your favorite shows, I find it hard to believe that you could seriously think Ursula is one of the juiciest roles to play. I mean, compared Mrs. Lovett and Eliza Dolittle? Frankly I think Sherie's acting was fine. Was it the best acting I have ever seen? No. But I blame the role for the way it is written for the stage. This is not the movie character we're talking about. Sherie has about 5 minutes of stage time to make the audience get Ursula. She plays it like a comedienne, and belts the crap out of the part. I agree with all of Brantley's review, except the part about her accent. I saw no inconsistencies there whatsoever, and think he just got caught up in his hatred for the whole thing.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:10am

It's really too bad. I wanted it to be good.

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:14am

I feel bad. Listening to the cast album, sounds like an amazing show!

If this show where to close, maybe Disney will finally bring The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Broadway

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:17am

I thought Sherie was channeling "Patsy" from ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:25am

bjh-

I think I'm having trouble expressing this, but in thinking of Ursula as a "juicy role", I mean in terms of CHARACTER. Not subtext, emotional journey, or anything significantly deep for a true thespian of the stage (said in a very regal British dialect =) ). I just mean physically, vocally, motivationally (you know, the scorned fairy-tale villianess?), Ursula's a pretty exciting character to play with. Does that make sense? Maybe not. I hope so, because that's all I'm saying.

I'm glad that so many have enjoyed Ms. Scott's take on the role, but it didn't work for me. As for the accent, I still think Brantley's right on. Even in tonight's broadcast of the cast recording the inconsistencies were there in her spoken lines within songs. During "Poor Unfortunate Souls", she was doing a stereotypical New York Jewish accent one moment and what seemed like a notion of some kind of English accent the next. But oh well =)

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:28am

The Cast album is out?

[blaxx]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:31am

No, it was only broadcasted on playbill radio tonight.

Wish Margo was here, is this Brantley's worst review ever?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:35am

If the director actually did her job her, she should have helped Sherie find the correct accent.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:40am

If this show where to close, maybe Disney will finally bring The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Broadway


I would LOVE to see that happen....but I don't think it will. I would love to have a cast recording in English, but for now I'll continue to learn German... Updated On: 1/11/08 at 01:40 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:41am

I think Disney needs to take a break after this.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:43am

It will be Fun to see DISNEY Theatricals aka Tommy Schumacher turn this Thrashing around.
It's when Queens Collide. Ben and Tommy.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:45am

Sherie is one of the best musical theater actresses of her generation. She manages to raise mediocre cliched material (LAST FIVE YEARS anyone?) to haunting, touching numbers. She is also one of the few who can actually belt a song (much like Tony-winner Debbie Gravitte) instead of screaming the song for no reason (think Shoshana Bean). She would have made a brilliant Ursula if she had any kind of material to work from, she is a comic genius and always adds an edge to her performance. Pity that Wright and Zambello never gave her anything to actually work with.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:46am

He should just be fired....

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 1:53am

Okay, I'm sorry, but how on earth do you get along calling THE LAST FIVE YEARS mediocre and cliche?

You may not like, but calling it cliche? That's one dumb statement.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 2:01am

ljay-

True that. Zambello and Schumacher are what ruined this show. It's just so sad when you think about what could have been...

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 2:03am

I definitely agree. Just listening to some of the cast recording, I feel this could have been special. It's a shame what happened.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 2:11am

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 2:14am

I'm sorry but while the structure of THE LAST FIVE YEARS is pretty fascinating, the lyrics and story are cliched, you can call it a dumb statement all you want but I think it's pretty accurate. I think Butz and Scott raise it to a different level but with less talented stars (which I have seen live) all the flaws are easily spotted.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 3:34am

1 Star from Clive Barnes

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112008/entertainment/theater/run_for_the_lifeboat_210876.htm


"January 11, 2008 -- AS idle as a plastic ship upon a plastic ocean - with apologies to Cole ridge's "Ancient Mariner" - that was the aqueous opening of "The Little Mermaid," Disney's latest musical ex travaganza to brave the seas of Broadway. "

[jagfkb]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 6:35am

Maybe they'll do a Curtains. They'll start to fail miserably, and after Brantly kills someone, they'll be locked in the theatre with a theatre geek and wind up fixing the entire show!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:42am

So I'm gonna guess no Tonys?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:52am

New York Post:

RUN FOR THE LIFEBOAT
"January 11, 2008 -- AS idle as a plastic ship upon a plastic ocean - with apologies to Cole ridge's "Ancient Mariner" - that was the aqueous opening of "The Little Mermaid," Disney's latest musical ex travaganza to brave the seas of Broadway.

And after that, it was plastic, plastic everywhere, enough to lead you to drink"
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01112008/entertainment/theater/run_for_the_lifeboat_210876.htm


New York Daily News:

New 'Little Mermaid' musical is beached on Great Wet Way
"Disney's "The Little Mermaid" isn't so little anymore. She's bloated to practically twice her size. The hit 1989 animated movie about a love-struck sea princess, Ariel, ran 83 minutes.

At the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it opened Thursday night, "Mermaid" runs close to 2 1/2 hours. Too bad a lot of what's been added is soggy filler. The show is more theme-park spectacle than Broadway musical."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2008/01/11/2008-01-11_new_little_mermaid_musical_is_beached_on.html

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:54am

I must say, sans his remarks about Sherie Rene Scott, Brantley's review is 110% spot-on. And I'm with Margo...he deserve's the Pulitzer for his creativity.