THE LITTLE MERMAID Reviews- Page 7

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:03am

Negative and accurate from the Washington Post:

"The cramming in of so many new songs seems to have impeded Wright's efforts to create characters of any depth, or to resolve the plot mechanics in a manner that makes much sense. (Then again, it's questionable how much narrative logic the target, post-toddler audience requires.) Uncannily, Palmer and especially Boggess resemble their cartoon predecessors, and they're not asked for much more than that in the way of characterization.

Fine Broadway singer-actors such as Scott and Lewis have been marooned in impossible roles. Although both play characters at the top of the sea-world food chain, neither one can escape the impression of being ensnared in some kind of a trap.

A stagnant sensation extends to the conception of entire numbers. For the second act's "Kiss the Girl," Zambello seeks to conjure Taymor's "Circle of Life" by posing actors as various kinds of marine life, with some, in "Lion King"-style, wearing the essence of the animal on their heads. Imitation, in this instance, is the sincerest sign of desperation."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/10/AR2008011003871.html

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:04am

wow! what did I missed .. I was literally passed out from the cough syrup last night... still not feeling good this morning....

I'll be in NYC tommorow to see THE LITTLE MERMAID... I was wonderin' after reading Brantley's review? should even bother???- those are some harsh words....ouch!

J*
Updated On: 1/11/08 at 08:04 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:06am

Nobody expected glowing raves, but these are really harsh (yet some very funny) reviews.

Munk, I am just curious why you are so elated?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:42am

Ben served up a "Brantley Special"! It was AWESOME!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:46am

And now watching it on Good Morning America, I realize how much I enjoyed the technical aspects...but they really killed a great movie.

ETA: Jeeze...2 segments!? I wonder what Diane Sawyer must be thinking... Updated On: 1/11/08 at 08:46 AM

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:50am

DISNEY is a money machine-I don't think they were going for an artistic interpretation of the film. They wanted a Disney Theme Park event on stage for kids...they did accomplish that much. I feel they only cared about filling seats with children and their parents. This is a critic proof show. They are making the kids happy, the hell with the parents, they are just along for the ride. And it may be a long one.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:52am

Just like how Tarzan was critic-proof, right?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:54am

Yeah, but TARZAN as a movie was considerably less popular than MERMAID. I think this will run for at least a year.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:08am

Just read Barnes' review, I don't know, it just didn't seem like a review to me. He just trashed the show and was done with it. He couldn't even remember the songs he was referring to. Unless he did that on purpose to say how forgettable he thought they were.

I do feel bad for the cast. I got to chat with some of them in Denver and they are nice people. And the show, while not perfect, was very enjoyable. It's like the critics just picked it apart. The whole thing about plastic being everywhere, well that's what a lot of the sets are made of. The reviews almost feel like a witch hunt. But, oh well, we knew it probably wasn't going to be pretty. I still think the show will do fine for a year or two. Maybe longer if audiences embrace it. Just my random thoughts early on a Friday morning!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:12am

All I can say is, THANK GOD I swore off Disney last year! The dailies were merciless, but I feel like saying, "serves them right." Keep this sort of stuff in the theme parks.

[silversurfer2]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:31am

Yankeefan007: You cannot begin to caompare the bult in Appeal of "The Litle Mermaid" to "Tarzan"...
Updated On: 1/11/08 at 09:31 AM

[Kaybee]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:38am

uncageg-- I completely agree.
I saw the show towards the beginning of december, and genuinely enjoyed it. It was fun an big and beautiful, and while it may not be right up everyone's alley, Shows like mermaid do have a place in the realm of musical theatre... wether we all want to admit it or not. The talent in that cast is incredible- even the ensemble is a knock-out.

I think the negative pre-buzz for this show really had a lot to do with why it sank last night in the reviews. When critics go into a show expecting it to be bad, they take on a mindset that doesn't leave many doors open for an overall fun or positive experience. WHICH is what the show is all about... having fun.


I'm not saying that mermaid is the best piece of art I've ever seen, or that it will change your life, or that it's even one of my favorites of the season. But, I guess for me, it was...magical. It made me remember why I fell in love with theatre in the first place. When, at age 8, I loved spectacle, music and dance and didn't care if that made me sound naive and uneducated in "the art form of the theatre."

just putting it out there....
Updated On: 1/11/08 at 09:38 AM

[James885]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 9:53am

wow - Brantly's review was hilarious!

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 09:53 AM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:13am

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 10:13 AM

[keen on kean]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:37am

I have tickets for next Wednesday. Should I drink heavily before the show or afterwards?
Updated On: 1/11/08 at 10:37 AM

[singingbackup]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:40am

I would drink DURING.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:42am

While I am, of course, very upset by these reviews, I still hope the shows runs a long time and recoups its investment. I will still be recommending this show to everyone I know. Can't wait to see it a sixth time.

[Craww]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:46am

I believe this is the worst reception I've faced for any of the shows I have seen (or, in this case, will see).

I'm pretty excited.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:51am

Well by reading those reviews, I just hope and pray it will have a successful run. I very much doubt it will be like TARZAN. My prediction is it could run for a few good years like AIDA did when it first opened.

[CouldaWouldaShoulda]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 10:55am

I wonder how long it will be until it is up on TKTS.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:09am

What is the consensus on Sierra Boggess? Brantley only mentioned her in passing.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

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

It was a generally positive consensus on Sierra. She's really just an innocent bystander in all of this.

[misschung]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:12am

Brantley had another hissy fit. I think it's unfortunate that he didn't have anything positive to say at all, especially about Sierra Boggess.

[CurtainPullDowner]

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

The consensus is that she's in a really BAD show.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 11:15am

Guh. I'm seeing this next week. Sounds like I should take a few dozen oyster shots beforehand.