The Little Mermaid...- Page 2

[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

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 2:41pm

well, it will definitely be adapted to the stage...so they might not even have the flounder/shark/chase scene. you know? like...they'll probably cut a rework many things so that it works best for the stage.

they're not going to copy the movie exactly. it will be different.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 6:28pm

In terms of sea to land-I always thought, with the right kind of lighting and a flexible set, they could make the illusion the illusion that Ariel is swimming up. Like, have her in a flying harness and move her up will (somehow) the ocean set moves down with the land set on top of it, making it seem like she's swimming "up" to land. And then, as millie said, have it be the end of Act 1.

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 7:35pm

Here are some problems that I have solved:

The whole bit where Atlantica is reveled:
Well they could do it like the revel of the Phantom's lair in "Phantom of the Opera". But it won't be entirely like that. Right after Fathoms Below the stage will go dark. Then (after the stage is clear) blue light and mist will appear on stage and bubbles will fall from balconys (or something). Then two lryical dancers dressed a merpeople will dance on stage and it will four other airal dancers will make like Tarzan and Jane to create the illiuson of swimming. Then people dressed like elements of the water will dance on stage. Then King Triton's castle is reveled as the sequence reaches it's climax.

Ursula's tranformation to Vanessa:
After Ursula says "I'll see him wriggle like a worm on
a hook!" As she's laughing lights will flash and smoke will engulf Ursula and when is gone there's Vanessa and then say something like "Look out Ariel here comes Vanessa!" Then she'll laugh an evil laugh and the stage goes dark.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 7:52pm

They should make the Vanessa section of the movie longer in the stage show.

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 10/1/05 at 8:42pm

Where's Julie Taymor when you need her?

[FlyingHigh2]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 12:54pm

You're right TabboPhan!

And it's not Atlantis right, they call it "Atlantica" in the movie...I haven't watched it in so long!

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 1:04pm

I agree with MrMidwest. The should make the Tranformation to Vanessa section longer.

[BreeDaniel]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 2:59pm

I want the entire thing done in a tank.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 4:08pm

>>>The chase sequence with Ariel, Flounder and The Shark (are they going to use puppets for Flounder? and what about the Shark?)

Maybe the shark could be fake and "flying" above the stage???

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:00pm

If anyone has been to Disney World and seen the staged version of "The Little Mermaid" will know that it can be done on Broadway. Transitions from land to sea will be done with water effects.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:13pm

Don't hold your breath. Emily's no longer Ursula.

"All Good Things Must End" is genius, though. She would have been brilliant in that role (the days she showed up). Too bad she can't get her act together.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:16pm

S'ok - I still love her...and wanted an excuse to paint her purple and darken her hair.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:20pm

Starring Emmy Rossum, huh?

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:21pm

You should make her more purple... right now it just looks like she has some weird skin disease.

She looks good with dark hair. Maybe she should think about changing it. I liked her wig in Merrily We Roll Along.

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:31pm

What do you mean by starring Emmy Rossum BSoBW2?

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:32pm

What do you mean by starring Emmy Rossum BSoBW2?

[leon1489]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 7:50pm

Okay, this is a crazy idea, but Emily Skinner's voice reminded me of her.

What if Linda Eder played Ursula? It would be incredible.

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 9:41pm

I'm still poundering about who I would cast if I was Disney. But here it the work in progress

Ariel-Emmy Rossum (they might cast a big star with musical background)
Prince Eric-Nick Lazzerini (I still don't know about that one)
Sebastion-Corey Reynolds
King Triton-James Naugthon
Ursula-Katlien Hopkins
Vanessa-Tracey Miller
Flotsam and Jetsam-Andy Karl and Ben Curtis
Scuttle-John Tartgila
Flounder (alternate)-Alex Rutherford
Flounder (alternate)-Mitchell David Ferden

[Craig]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 9:44pm

Once again - the posting and discussion of bootlegs is not permitted under any circumstance. Any further abuse of this policy will result in suspension.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 9:46pm

Well, Emily was her understudy in Jekyll and Hyde.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 9:54pm

Do you think the Little Mermaid could be kind of cool as a ballet?

[Craig]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 10:03pm

When Matthew Bourne was attached, that was a strong possibility for part of the show...

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 10:03pm

Many Disney movie musicals are done "on ice". Which looks similar as a ballet, so it could be done.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 10/2/05 at 10:06pm

i think doing the show under water would be a little over the top