The Official THE LITTLE MERMAID First Preview Reviews Thread- Page 2

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:06am

So, how much did they change Act 2?

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:18am

My friend saw it a bunch of times in Denver and she said they changed a lot of things, including the entire dialogue at the end and a lot of the lyrics in "I Want the Good Times Back."

I'm running out the door, but I just wanted to say I am shocked no one mentioned the choreography. I was so looking forward to it because it's by the same person who choreographed Mary Poppins and I thought the choreo was ABYSMAL. Seriously, I'm not sure there even was choreography existing on that stage.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the show and will post more later. The cast is so incredibly talented as a whole and I think there will definitely be some Tony noms in hte future.

And all the kids in the audience were spellbound...it was fun to look around and see the excitement on hteir faces when they recognized a song.

Stage door was ridiculous. There had to have been at least two hundred people milling around...no supervision and actos had to fight their way out of the crowd. But the whole cast was nice to talk to and props to Sierra who came out and was gracious and kind to everyone and signed for everyone who asked.

[carymetorent2]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:19am

And a spoiler for the person who asked about Big Ursula..

At teh end, tentacles come out from around the stage and are waving around above the audience's head. Pretty cool. I think thatw as supposed to be Big Ursula, although I can't believe they LIFTED teh Vanessa story line out.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:19am

"Yeah, that costume reminded me of something out of "BKLYN"- very cheesy--- Honestly, I didnt even know he was Flounder at first !!!"

When I read about the tail being ripped off, I actually thought that it was something out of Brooklyn too. I am not seeing this show. You can't make me.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 11:37am

Only in America would a mermaid rip off another mermaid's tail. By the way, did they rip off the long kirt too?

"and are waving around above the audience's head."

As in, from the roof, or like Audrey II in the revival of Little Shop of Horrors?

[it'sjustshowbiz]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 12:37pm

I'm still confused about a mermaid "ripping of another mermaid's tail". In the Denver production the only transformation was at the end of Act 1. Ariel (well, a double) was lifted up on a wire and she kicked off her fin. So there was another transformation in the new production?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 1:05pm

I'm running out the door, but I just wanted to say I am shocked no one mentioned the choreography. I was so looking forward to it because it's by the same person who choreographed Mary Poppins and I thought the choreo was ABYSMAL. Seriously, I'm not sure there even was choreography existing on that stage.

Actually, Stephen Mear was only a co-choreographer of MARY POPPINS. From those I've talked to, Matthew Bourne did most of the work on POPPINS.

Bourne was also supposed to choreograph MERMAID, but pulled out due to conflicts and Stephen Mear took over as choreographer.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 2:47pm

what did they have for merchandise? Windowcards? T-shirts... Please share and tell all! LOL thanks

[jagfkb]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:38pm

Merchandise: They had ALOT of stuff for sale, considerring this was merely a preview.

The tentacles: During many of the Ursula scenes, the large bubble which she rides around in has large tentacles which swirl around, and during the finale, A few large tentacles come out from holes in the proscenium and swirl about.

The tail: Everyone is thinking that the one mermaid removing the tail was at the end of act one. it's not, it's during a scene which ALMOST EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD wanted to see. King Triton gives Ariel human legs, and it's accomplished by having the mersisters skate around her and having one of them remove the tail. However, the sequence is being changed according to one of the prop managers.

By the way, shame to everyone who went last night and gave this show bad reviews. The whole point of Broadway is to love and cherish the shows we see, not rip them apart so that people can lose thier jobs and suffer, just because their idea, god forbid, isn't original, or maybe needs some fine tuning. The creative team KNOWS what needs to be changed, and maybe, just to set the record, NOT EVERY ONE HAS TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THEIR CHARACTER! The cotumes, in my opinion, were just amazing, and I can't see why anyone would not like them. sure, they may nt be so complex, but they still look cool. Not to mention, the hours which people put into making those costumes, and the hours spent making the sets, which were completely amazing. The fact that every minor detail has to be ripped to shreads by "PURISTS" is simply disgusting! Aren't we supposed to enjoy theatre for what it is? In fact, what is more important? An enjoyable time in the theatre, or making sure that it's art?? In my opinion, that was art, and in the mind of the girl who spent her life's savings to buy a ticket to this show who was sitting next to me, Mermaid was art. And now, we will have to go home, and listen to YOU shredding our enjoyable experience to pieces. So next time you shred apart this show, think about it first.
Updated On: 11/4/07 at 04:38 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:42pm

The whole point of Broadway is to love and cherish the shows we see, not rip them apart so that people can lose thier jobs and suffer, just because their idea, god forbid, isn't original, or maybe needs some fine tuning. The creative team KNOWS what needs to be changed, and maybe, just to set the record, NOT EVERY ONE HAS TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THEIR CHARACTER!

Oh. Seems like someone touched someone's nerve!

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:43pm

Amen, Amen, and Amen!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:49pm

<< Testiing-- thanks for a nice review..looking forward to see it.

So I thought Disney did some changes from the DENVER try-out? .. Its seems like its the same old bland production ! oh boy! this is gonna be really fun to review & read others' reactions for the next 2 weeks
>>

Not bland at all, Jay-- just needs tweaking. Cast is amazing, and you HAVE toi leave the theatre with a smile on your face, singing ! Hope ya enjoy it !

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:49pm

Okay, I'll bite...if I spent my entire life savings to see a show I hated, would I then be allowed to rip it apart?

I'm all for enjoying theater for what it is, but if I spend a lot of money on something and I hate it, I'm not gonna pretend to like it, because "of the hours spent making those costumes and sets."

And further, why aren't people allowed to not like a show? Why aren't people allowed to make comments about what they didn't like?

Regarding art, it's Broadway. There's a standard that the name "Broadway" upholds. Theatergoers, ticket sellers, etc., won't stand for another show like Tarzan, which everyone knew was a dud, both artistically and with the crowds.

It sounds, perhaps, that you, jagfkb, protest too much. Are all the negative opinions making you slowly change your mind?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 4:52pm

And I highly doubt people are going to get fired over negative reactions to their work ON BROADWAYWORLD. Please find me a picture of someone keeping a tally of the messages here and then firing someone accordingly. (Actually, that'd be pretty funny...)

[jagfkb]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:16pm

Just stop guys Updated On: 11/4/07 at 06:16 PM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:21pm

Come on, Jag! What world do you live in? This is a business, and a very public one at that. Something as commercial as Disney's production of The Little Mermaid is ripe for criticism.
Nobody's gonna lose their job from some negative posts on Broadway world. What will lose people their job is if the negative sentiment about this show that has been exhibited on this board is exhibited by the rest of the theater-going public.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:24pm

Way to defend your opinion, Jag.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 6:45pm

<< What will lose people their job is if the negative sentiment about this show that has been exhibited on this board is exhibited by the rest of the theater-going public. >>

The opinions of those that saw the show last night seem to be very positive.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:07pm

The whole point of Broadway is to love and cherish the shows we see, not rip them apart so that people can lose thier jobs and suffer, just because their idea, god forbid, isn't original, or maybe needs some fine tuning.

The whole point of Broadway is to make money. Loving and cherishing belong in the Land of Sunshine and Rainbows, not commercial theatre.

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:16pm

Fenchurch serves out remainder of punishment tallying negative opinions of BWW posters. Looks like Max Crumm is running close behind Hunter Foster. But wait! This just in! Snide remarks made by BrodyFosse push the entire cast of A Chorus Line into the running! Who will be the next casualty of BROADWAYWORLD.COM???

[misschung]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:19pm

In fact, what is more important? An enjoyable time in the theatre, or making sure that it's art??

There are just so many things wrong with that statement that I don't know where to begin.

Jag, if the threads criticizing the show bother you - don't read them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Just because you enjoyed the show doesn't mean that other's don't have the right not to. Further, all the reviews that I've read thus far have been overly positive, while occasionally pointing out certain weak points in the show.

Don't let negative responses from other theater goers ruin your experience.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/4/07 at 7:20pm

arts-That might be the best post on this board all year!