This holiday season the Ordway is presenting a touring production of
The Little Mermaid, the stage adaptation of the 1989 Disney movie that was the first of its modern era animated films. I don't think this is the most successful Disney adaptation. That would be
The Lion King (currently the 3rd longest running Broadway musical), followed by
Alladin or
Beauty and the Beast (
the Ordway did a gorgeous original local production of the latter in 2022, a tradition I hope they get back to next season). But even if it's not the best, and it's not local,
The Little Mermaid is still a lot of fun for the littles and those of us of a certain age who grew up with the movie. It features a winning cast, and a cool design that is so effective in making us feel like we're "Under the Sea" that I almost got seasick!
The Little Mermaid continues at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in beautiful festive downtown St. Paul through December 29.
The stage musical
The Little Mermaid is based on the
Disney movie, which is based on the
Hans Christian Anderson story about a mermaid who falls in love with a human Prince and exchanges her voice for a chance to be human. In the Disney version, Ariel is a precocious teenager who doesn't feel at home under the sea with her father King Triton and six sisters. She longs to be part of the human world, and collects trinkets and visits the shore against her father's wishes. After rescuing Prince Eric from a shipwreck, she makes the fateful deal with her aunt Ursula (the familial relationship being a change from the movie), the evil sea witch, and must charm the Prince and get him to kiss her within three days, or she's doomed to an underwater hell. Unlike the original story, in this Disney version Ariel banishes the sea witch, gets her Prince, and lives happily ever after - a typical Disney fairy tale story.*
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| where's Ariel? (photo by Jason Niedle) |
The 80-minute movie has been expanded into a two and a half hour (including intermission) musical, mostly by adding about ten new songs written by original composer Alan Menken with lyricist Glenn Slater, original lyricist Howard Ashman having died in 1991. The songs are more or less successful, with the originals from the movie being the favorites. But the new songs give some of the other characters something to do (the mersisters have a fun song, as does Ariel's silly bird friend Scuttle), and the "If Only" quartet, with Ariel, the Price, Sebastian, and King Triton all singing separately in harmony, is the loveliest of the new songs. But nothing is better than "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," or "Kiss the Girl."
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| Leianna Weaver as Ariel (photo by Jason Niedle) |
Leianna Weaver is everything you would want in an Ariel, spirited and plucky as the rebellious teenager, funny and awkward as a new human, with a lovely voice. Christian Probst is a charming Prince indeed, Liz McCartney is quite fabulous as Ursula with her many long tentacles (manipulated by her neon electric eels in wheely shoes, played by Mitchell Lam Hau and Christopher Diem), and Trent Mills is a strong presence as Ariel's stern but loving father. Kevin Kulp, Dana Orange, and Quintan Craig are all delightful as Ariel's trio of animal friends Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle, respectively.
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| life is better "Under the Sea" (photo by Jason Niedle) |
The underwater world is beautifully accomplished with lighting, blue-toned backdrops and scrims, multiple characters "swimming" through the air in harnesses, and the actors' constant undulations as if they're treading water. The song "Under the Sea" is a colorful explosion, with bubbles released over the audience adding a touch of magic. The mermaids' costumes hint at that classic mermaid shape (while allowing the wearers to move around), and the animal costumes and make-up are fun and bright. (Scenic design by Kenneth Foy, costume design by Amy Clark and Mark Koss, lighting design by Charlie Morrison.)
