The Little Mermaid...

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:27pm

I just read about how Disney may doing The Little Mermaid, and was curious as to how they would present it. The Disney MGM version is pretty lame, so it would be a daunting task to make it neat on Broadway....Here is an idea I had...

There is this neat park in Florida called Weeki Wachee. It is built around a large spring and has an underwater theatre and stage. Since like the 50's they have been doing underwater shows with props, music, etc. I know it is very far fetched, but any chance Disney would do something like this when, if ever , The Little Mermaid comes to Broadway. Weeki Wachee actually does a 30 minute non-disney version of the little mermaid now, which is awesome! I know it isn't very Broadway like (performers basically lip sync ) , but it is innovative and very shocking, I think.

Here is the link to the park, check it out for pics and stuff.....
http://www.weekiwachee.com

Here is another link to a great story CBS did about the park.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/06/06/earlyshow/living/travel/main511362.shtml

I have been to the park , so if you have any questions about it let me know and I would be happy to answer them...

Updated On: 10/3/05 at 04:27 PM

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:40pm

Anyone see the show "The Simple Life" with Paris Hilton? I love this show! but yeah they did an episode in Weeki Wachee. I can see how they would do "The Little Mermaid". It would be cool.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:44pm

is it just me or does that first post reak (sp) of shill?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:45pm

*sniff sniff*

Nope, it's not just you, ZONE.

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:46pm

well, my senses are not very atuned.

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:47pm

Yes, I saw the simple life also...

And what is shill?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:48pm

Wait I don't understand...I went to the website and the picture they have on there shows a "mermaid" underwater sipping a coke...how can someoene actually do a show underwater??? Wouldn't they have to keep coming up for breathing because it doesn't look like there's an oxygen tank.

With the right creative minds, giving the Little Mermaid the illusion of being underwater isn't that difficult...it's all in the lighting...like if they got blueish ripply lights...it's a little difficult to explain but maybe someone else can explain better.

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:50pm

For breathing they have these things called air-hoses, which allow the performers to stay underwater for long periods of time. And I think there is a link on left of the site to more pics....

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:50pm

can we not criticize the first post and maybe just discuss the ideas Zoneace and Sorry?

Updated On: 9/30/05 at 04:50 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:50pm

I think that would be hard to watch for 2 1/2hrs. Not too mention the budget of such a spectacle. I'd rather have Disney stick with their insticts.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:52pm

It sounds to complicated for some reason...air hoses/singing/acting for 2 1/2 hrs? What if something malfunctions? Anyways once again, with the right creative minds, they can make the underwater illusion onstage possible.

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 4:55pm

Your're right, RentBoy. The spectacle may grow old after a while, as I said the current show is only 30 minutes. It also wouldn't have any real singing or acting, just lip synching. I wish they had an online video though, once you see it it is really neat.

Oh yeah, there is this British group named Supergrass who filmed a video there, here is the link...

http://www.virgin.net/music/musicvideos/supergrass_lowc_hi.html

It should give you all a better idea of how the shows are done. The end is where they actually show some of the show....

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 5:06pm

No, yeah, i've seen the shows before. I saw the Simple Life thing about it, so I get how its done. But I dunno, I just think its sorta cheesy - no offense.

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 5:12pm

Oh, no offense taken, the shows are a little cheesy. But the shows could always change, it's the theater that is neat. I know Disney could come up with something better if they wanted to.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 5:16pm

supergrass rocked! I think we should wait and see how little mermaid turns out... when you think what they can do on stage now (saigons helicopter, chitty flying, Elphaba flying, les mis and the barricades etc) we all know that they are props helping the actors but suspension of disbelief allows the audience to accept this... i think it'll be ok! Disney has got the budget to make it look good!

[James2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 6:09pm

Did anybody go to that Alan Menkin thing last week? If so, how were the songs from the musical? I really think Michael McGrath and Brian d'Arcy James fit those parts. Not entirely sure about Kerry Butler though.

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 6:29pm

They might want someone in the mezzo-soprano range to be Ariel. I'm currently wondering about costumes and casting and speical effects Here's what I think they might do Ariel's tail. The have a slim skrit with scales swen on it and fake fins swen on the sides.
Updated On: 9/30/05 at 06:29 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 7:22pm

I'm particularly excited about the Little Mermaid because it was my favorite Disney movie as a young girl! I recently got a hold of the video from someone as I was anxious to see it again...still remains my favorite!

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 9/30/05 at 10:21pm

Yeah, I'm excited too. If Disney gets the right creative people they can really make it great....

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 1:03am

We're looking at these challenges for The Little Mermaid:

* The entry of the Ship and floating on the water
* The Overture sequence where Atlantica is unveiled
* The chase sequence with Ariel, Flounder and The Shark (are they going to use puppets for Flounder? and what about the Shark?)
* How are they going to dress Scuttle? How will they depict the scene where he's standing on a rock in the middle of the ocean?
* Ursula's little cronies: Flotsam and Jetsam: I can imagine these really cool, serpent-like puppets... writhing around (really hi-tech modern stuff)
* The ship in the storm. How in the world will they handle that? This would have to be the most complicated scene in the show (besides Ursula's demise); because it takes place on the ship, floating on the water, then under-sea, then ship etc. etc. and an exploding ship and wreckage floating about
* The destruction of the grotto. How will this be done? How will the actors walk in the mermaid suits? How will Triton's trident operate?
* How will Ariel's stolen voice be depicted? How will she shoot up to land?
* All the land bits are easy: but the transition to land and sea is gonna be hard
* Ursula's transformation to Vanessa: how will they accomplish this?
* Ariel swimming to the ship... how will they do that. She'll need to float on water, and not just under it.
* The inflated Ursula and the huge end bit before her demise. This will either come off (extremely) corny or very powerful

So many challenges. It's probably going to be the most expensive musical staged EVER!

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 6:34am

*BUMP* I think this is an interesting challenge.

I'd like to hear people's opinions on what could be done to resolve these

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 9:54am

I does seem very challenging, rockfenris. Basically because it's taking place in two completely seperate worlds. People have tried to copy the Weeki Wachee idea before. In Japan once, I think I heard, they had an underwater tank (not natural spring) with windows and shows similar to Weeki Wachee but it ended up being destroyed in an earthquake or something. So it is possible, but I certainly don't think so on Broadway.

The only thing I can see them doing with the animals in the play (sebastian, flounder, etc.) is puppets, but I think then people would say they copied lion king.

And as far as the land sequesnces, there is a part in thier Little Mermaid where the prince falls in off of a boat. It starts when an anchor drops in the water, and then storm comes with strobe lights and stuff and he jumps in like he fell off the boat.

I just hope they figure ou something neat, I don't think it would be to cool for the mermaid to just walk around in a mermaid tail dress.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 1:22pm

I can't give answers to everything, but I tried my best:

* The Overture sequence where Atlantica is unveiled:
>>>Can't be that difficult for people in charge of the music. They can just have a big backdrop depicting Atlantica and have all the creatures come onstage in their costumes, with the big shell in the middle of the stage Ariel was supposed to sing in...the opening number can be during Ariel's missed concert.

* The ship in the storm. How in the world will they handle that? This would have to be the most complicated scene in the show (besides Ursula's demise); because it takes place on the ship, floating on the water, then under-sea, then ship etc. etc. and an exploding ship and wreckage floating about:
>>>Two levels of the stage? Like the top level can be the ship and the bottom level can be the "sea". And lots of bright lighting and flashes...they made it rain and thunder in Beauty and the Beast, right?

* The destruction of the grotto. How will this be done? How will the actors walk in the mermaid suits? How will Triton's trident operate?
>>>Regarding the trident, how did the Phantom of the Opera shoot fireballs from his staff? Maybe they can do something similar to that effect.

* How will Ariel's stolen voice be depicted? How will she shoot up to land?
>>>If heard voices onstage "morphed" almost to an echo. Maybe Ariel can start off singing, then she can move into a "lip sync" and make the lip synching parts an echo, almost as if her voice is travleing...they can also use lighting to show the traveling of the voice.

* All the land bits are easy: but the transition to land and sea is gonna be hard
>>>Scene changes? Also, Ariel going from sea to land as human can be a transition between Act 1 and 2.
* Ursula's transformation to Vanessa: how will they accomplish this?
>>>How did they accomplish the Beast to human at the end of Beauty and the Beast?

Although I can't think of anything for every questions, I do believe that these things can be achieved if some of the most brilliant creative minds are put together. Once again, they accomplished the Beast transformation, didn't they? We can't imagine certain things happening until they're accomplished.

Updated On: 10/1/05 at 01:22 PM

[hot_brdwy_diva]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 2:37pm

double post...

Updated On: 10/1/05 at 02:37 PM

[hot_brdwy_diva]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 2:37pm

Here are my.. OPINIONS.

>>>The entry of the Ship and floating on the water<<<
They made a ship sink in Titanic and the whole thing took place on the boat so I'm sure they will make it work.

>>>The Overture sequence where Atlantica is unveiled<<<
Either an elaborate back drop with lots of lights or an elaborate set piece with lots of lights.

>>>The chase sequence with Ariel, Flounder and The Shark (are they going to use puppets for Flounder? and what about the Shark?)<<< I don't know how they'll do this one... but if I had to make it up I would use some neat lighting effects. Never really show the shark but have the shape of one in shadow or a projection onto the stage. You'd never really see it but it'd still be scary.
>>>How are they going to dress Scuttle? How will they depict the scene where he's standing on a rock in the middle of the ocean?<<< I hope they don't do him like Zazu. It worked for the lion king but I don't think it'll work for TLM.
>>>Ursula's little cronies: Flotsam and Jetsam: I can imagine these really cool, serpent-like puppets... writhing around (really hi-tech modern stuff)<<< See I think it depends on how they depict all the animal characters. Who knows... maybe they wont do puppets and they'll just be shady looking actors onstage.
>>>The ship in the storm. How in the world will they handle that? This would have to be the most complicated scene in the show (besides Ursula's demise); because it takes place on the ship, floating on the water, then under-sea, then ship etc. etc. and an exploding ship and wreckage floating about<<<<
I don't think they will make it EXACTLY like the movie... they'll find a way to make it adaptable to the stage. I'm thinking it's going to be very theme-park ish.

>>>The destruction of the grotto. How will this be done? How will the actors walk in the mermaid suits? How will Triton's trident operate? <<< Lots of intricate pieces that fall apart is my guess. The trident can use those flash things. And about mermaid suits... who knows maybe they will all actually be flying... now that would be a spectacle.

>>>How will Ariel's stolen voice be depicted? How will she shoot up to land?<<< Thats easy to do on a sound board with an echo effect. And the shoot up to land bit... they could use a silohette with a double thing for that and I think it would look nice. That way ariel can be ready for the next scene of "surfacing" on land.

>>>All the land bits are easy: but the transition to land and sea is gonna be hard <<< It won't be that hard... they can use both sides of the stage simultaneously.

>>>Ursula's transformation to Vanessa: how will they accomplish this? <<< Probably like how millie said... similar to the beast.

>>>Ariel swimming to the ship... how will they do that. She'll need to float on water, and not just under it.<<< With the right lighting and skrim/material I'm sure it'll look nice. If they even include that... I mean I think thats one of those things that you can "imply" during scene changes.

>>>The inflated Ursula and the huge end bit before her demise. This will either come off (extremely) corny or very powerful<<< Perhaps you wont really see the full ursula. Similar to the Giant in Into the Woods, she could be off stage and we just see her very large tentacles.

Updated On: 10/1/05 at 02:37 PM