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

So, how much did they change Act 2?

---

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.

---

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?

---

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.

---

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

Amen, Amen, and Amen!

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?

Just stop guys

Updated On: 11/4/07 at 06:16 PM

Way to defend your opinion, Jag.

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.

---

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.

---