LITTLE MERMAID Dallas Cast- Page 2

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 10:54am

I saw it during previews and it was a vast improvement from the Broadway and Denver versions. I'll talk about it out of order, but most people know the overall story anyway. I think the flying/swimming effect worked beautifully, which was one of the more significant changes.

Although I love "I Want The Good Times Back" as a song, I never liked it in its context as Ursula's introduction. "Daddy's Little Angel" really provided a back story so we were able to understand why she plots this scheme that sets the course of the show in the first place. I really wish this was recorded in English in some form (I know there are recordings in other languages), because this was one of the songs in my head leaving the theatre.

Flounder is now a teenager in this version and seems to have a crush on Ariel, although not many audience members were able to really understand that because his lines to/about Ariel were one-liners. For example, he has one or two lines at the beginning of the "Part Of Your World" scene and exits. And Flounder now rides a yellow Rip-Stick (my brother has one) and kind of "flounders" out of scenes. The children's keys for Flounder in "She's In Love" stayed the same and the actor playing Flounder kind of seemed struggled to reach those notes. Context-wise, during "She's In Love", Flounder is upset at the idea/discovery that Ariel is in love.

The ship wreck seemed weaker than the other versions because the ship never really "wrecked"; everyone on the ship was moving around unsteadily and Prince Eric just got knocked off the ship, which continued to sail off without him, if I remember correctly. For the rescuing Eric scene and Ariel's transformation after "Poor Unfortunate Souls", the same basic concept was used from the other versions.

"Poor Unfortunate Souls", although brilliantly performed, always lacks the same haunting quality that the film has just because of Ursula being able to swoop in from ever corner, the magic spells, etc.

"Under The Sea", I know, is like a big Mardi Gras-esque party and I could not identify any undersea creatures that the ensemble were dressed as; same with the original version. Alan Mingo, Jr. sang it well and the choreography was great, but I was expecting to see - well - fish.

And the ending... this is where it seemed to fall flat and everyone around me was, like, "what?" SPOILER.... Ariel grabs Ursula's magic shell and threatens to destroy it to kill Ursula... In my mind, why would Ariel hesitate to destroy the shell? Just do it. And "The Contest" works better in this version, but it should be just done away with and rewritten altogether. Somehow, for reasons we are not given, Ursula arrives at the contest and Flotsam and Jetsam swoop in and take Ariel underwater. There seems to be no climactic ending to the show, like the movie.

And I say that again thinking, yeah, you can't just make a direct adaptation. But don't lose the qualities that the film had. There are ways to bringing this to life onstage. It's not going to be easy or cheap, but it can happen. Just like "The Lion King." And that's what has me nervous about "Aladdin"... I know they're going with the film's original concept and ridding/changing some things from the final film (Farewell, Abu!) but I hope they don't lose the adventurous, epic, and magical qualities that the film has.

It seemed like they rushed TLM to get to Broadway without big creative changes in a lot of aspects from Denver. Not every show is ready for Broadway straight from one out-of-town tryout. At least with "Aladdin", they had two or three tryouts where they could take time to work on things and get it ready for Broadway and then they still have previews at the New Amsterdam to do the same. It probably wasn't cheap, but they could have a better show that way.

Anyway, with TLM it was a great improvement and could still use work and I wish that could be looked at before it gets licensed. But not everyone would be able to afford doing a big climactic demise of Ursula if it were to be implemented, but hey. I really did enjoy it, it was a great night of theatre and the kiddos loved it. They should be settled down a bit, but it was exciting to see them experience live theatre.

Song List:

ACT ONE
Overture -- Orchestra
The World Above -- Ariel
Fathoms Below -- Pilot, Sailors, Prince Eric, and Grimsby
Daughter of Triton -- Mersisters
If Only (Triton's Lament) -- King Triton
Daddy's Little Angel -- Ursula, Flotsam, and Jetsam
Part of Your World -- Ariel
The Storm -- Sailors
Part of Your World (Reprise) -- Ariel
She's In Love -- Mersisters and Flounder
Her Voice -- Prince Eric
Under the Sea -- Sebastian and Sea Creatures
If Only (Ariel's Lament) -- Ariel
Sweet Child -- Flotsam and Jetsam
Poor Unfortunate Souls -- Ursula

ACT TWO
Entr'acte -- Orchestra
Positoovity -- Scuttle and Gulls
Beyond My Wildest Dreams -- Ariel, Maids, and Grimsby
Les Poissons -- Chef Louis
Les Poissons (Reprise) -- Chef Louis and Chefs
One Step Closer -- Prince Eric
Daddy's Little Angel (Reprise) -- Ursula, Flotsam, and Jetsam
Kiss the Girl -- Sebastian and Animals
If Only (Quartet) -- Ariel, Prince Eric, Sebastian, King Triton
The Contest -- Grimsby and Princesses
Poor Unfortunate Sould (Reprise) -- Ursula
Finale -- King Triton, Ariel, Prince Eric, and Ensemble

Curtain:

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:01am

I just wish this show could be done right and done well. The material deserves it. It's truly a shame that this has still yet to reach its full potential. Apparently rewriting the ending is something they are not willing to compromise on.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 11:36am

I also forgot to say that like in the movie, "Under the Sea" is now also sung before King Triton destroys Ariel's grotto. When Triton goes to it so do Ariel's sisters, but her sisters only stay for a minute. Flounder also tells the sisters about Ariel's love for Eric before Sebastian tells King Triton.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 12:13pm

" Somehow, for reasons we are not given, Ursula arrives at the contest "
isn't this explained in Daddy's Little Angel (Reprise)- that they are going to go up and intervene? I don't know what changes have been made since the last mini tour, but that's what I remember- IWTGTB Reprise certainly explained it.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 12:13pm

" Somehow, for reasons we are not given, Ursula arrives at the contest "
isn't this explained in Daddy's Little Angel (Reprise)- that they are going to go up and intervene? I don't know what changes have been made since the last mini tour, but that's what I remember- IWTGTB Reprise certainly explained it.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/24/14 at 1:01pm

It may have been, I just may not have realized it. And during the contest scene, we just hear her and see her eyes which was odd.

[Fan123]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 2:50am

Thanks for the report, jacobsnchz14.

Re: The ship wreck seemed weaker than the other versions because the ship never really "wrecked"; everyone on the ship was moving around unsteadily and Prince Eric just got knocked off the ship...

From listening to the Broadway cast recording, I got the sense that the show, perhaps unintentionally, makes Eric seem responsible for the shipwreck. That's what I got from the dialogue in 'Fathoms Below' - Pilot: "We ought to head back to shore..." Eric: "Not while I'm captain. Now follow that voice, to the ends of the earth if you have to." Is that how it comes across on stage too? I don't know if they've kept that dialogue in, but if they have, perhaps having Eric as the only storm victim makes it easier to take him as the romantic lead later on, as he hasn't just caused an entire ship's crew to be endangered/drowned.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/25/14 at 4:27am

No, fan. Sadly and thankfully, you are thinking differently.
The previous posters seem t ant a very detail and explicit shipwreck scene, showing the show breaking apart, etc,