The Little Mermaid in The Netherlands- Page 3

[degrassifan]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:42pm

TheatreKid3, I honestly think you're just a big fan of the Broadway production that you will automatically dislike anything that's not exactly like it. I mean it's fine, we all have our opinions, but at least try to have an open mind.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:45pm

I really really really do not care for that new song. I will take "Good Times" over that any day.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:47pm

While I did like the Broadway production, I am by far not the least likely to say it had many flaws - many of which this production was supposed to have fixed. It just seems they are going backwards in terms of mermaid costumes, some set design, and the illusions of swimming. I do have an open mind, but from these pictures and clips, this production (in terms of the elements I described above) is looking like a letdown. Sad, too, because I usually love Bob Crowley's work.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 4:54pm

Francesca Zambello was the one who said 'no water/ no wires' (kind of like how the director of the revival of CARRIE said 'no blood' as if refuting the obvious theatrical solution is in itself some reason for celebration)

Matthew Bourne's who was attached to direct before Zambello also planned to include wires and water screens.

I don't think you can really tell from these clips how effective (or not) this production is but it looks like it could be a lot more satisfying than the Broadway production.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 5:10pm

True, it was Zambello who said that, but in my opinion that was a good artistic choice. It allowed the actors to completely be themselves and have full range of control over their movements. True what we have seen so far is not a complete representation, and this production (as a whole) might be better than the Broadway one. The same can't be said for that hideous cone wig, however. I don't care who you are, that does not look good.

[Skywalker3]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 5:21am

Oh Boy!


L-R: Flotsam, Flounder, Grimsby, Triton, Ariel, Dutch real prinses, her husband, Prince Erik, Scuttle, Ursula, (behind her is Jetsam), Chef Louis, Sebastian

Bob Crowley what were you thinking!?!

[Karin1980]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 9:20am

I have seen the show on Broadway and in the Netherlands. Some things were improved, some were not. I laughed, but for all the wrong reasons. The story still has the same problems and the new song for Ursula is not a better one than Good Times. I'm sad to say that I couldn't care less about this production. It's for none of the creatives their best work.

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[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 10:39am

Most of the Dutch costumes are laughable, but I LOVE Sebastian's and Flounder's! Especially Sebastian's... I loathed that costume on Broadway.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 12:17pm

I'm really digging the Mermaid direction. I did laugh when I saw the Eel rollerskates. I guess they still have that ludicrous electrocution scene. Also that curtain call is a bit unfair, it's totally out of context costume/set-wise.

All that said fan of the new design, the show's probably still a freaking mess.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 12:06am

I really like the imagery and underwater effects here, but I can't get past that ugly cone hair and drape of a tail fin.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/14/12 at 12:35am

Other than that wig (and I don't think anything more needs to be said about that), I really like that picture you posted, finebydesign. I would imagine that "drape of a tail" has some amazing movement and flow to it while she's swimming/flying. I like it so much better than the long skirt and butt-tail combo they were sporting on Broadway.

I'm still very curious as to what the Broadway production would have ended up looking like if Matthew Bourne had remained with the project.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 1:37am

I'm dying to here what Matthew Bourne wanted to do. Always been so curious. But I can't help but think that if Bob Crowley were designing for an American production of this, the costumes would be much different.

[kurt.perry41]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 3:07am

Well here is a video of the Ursula cosutme but a different style for Ariel.

http://youtu.be/CwN0on95754

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 4:35am

I am very fond of Alan's music - but doesn't Papa's Little Girl sound sound exactly like Mama Knows Best from Tangled...?

Updated On: 7/23/12 at 04:35 AM

[TrulyOutrageousJem]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 9:54am

I'm sorry but I think these costumes look horrible. I mean Ursula looks ridiculous and Ariels wig and dress are just absurd. Also, what was wrong with I Want the Good Times Back!? I loved that song and it's actually one of my favorites on the album!

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 11:41am

i like the idea behind this Ursula costume, but couldn't the skirt and puppeteer's been in black, so they'd be less distracting?

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 11:57am

I agree with Fantom, concept of Ursula is cool just not well executed.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 3:52pm

I like the Ursula costume, I just wish she had some hip movement. So weird how her body doesn't sway at all.

I LOVE the Ariel wig, I actually think it's quite beautiful. I also dig Ariel's "core" workout in this scene.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 4:50pm

^ I hope that is sarcasm. I also noticed how she looked to be doing a toning workout throughout the number.

Heelys - 1, Wires, Standing & Belly Movement - 0

[imdreamingbig]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 9:29pm

"but doesn't Papa's Little Girl sound sound exactly like Mama Knows Best from Tangled...?"

Mother Knows Best always sounded (rhythmically, at least) like Wasting Away to me, which was a song for Ursula used in workshops for TLM on Broadway. It was replaced by I Want the Good Times Back.

Updated On: 7/23/12 at 09:29 PM

[finebydesign]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 4:46pm

These seem to come from Slater's writing "style." "I've Got a Dream" and "How I got the Calling" and even "Only for Him" are all so similar to my ear.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 9:11pm

I actually kinda like both this new Dutch production and the Broadway production but I think the whole suspending the merpeople from wires works better than the heeleys. It's a great core workout actually. The cone head underwater wig I think has grown on me.

[greenguy211]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 10:57pm

I personally liked the Broadway costumes much better. They only had a few things that could have been improved on to make it just right. I think the mermaid tails worked well and the concept was nice, they just needed to not be right on their butts. They should have been arched lower rather than straight out their behinds. I thought Ursula's costume worked very well but they could have made it purple-based rather than green, just to have it relate to the film but not be a complete copy. Broadway's Flounder costume is just horrific. The Netherlands Flounder costume is the only costume I prefer over Broadway's. The set for the Netherlands production is quite nice. If they switched the underwater set from the Netherlands with the Broadway underwater set and changed the costumes up a bit, I feel like the Broadway production could have been amazing. The Netherlands production just seems like a mess after seeing the decisions they made ESPECIALLY with the cone wigs. I don't know how anyone could think those would be acceptable in any production. The costumes for Triton, Ursula and Sebastian are just really bad. Is it even still open?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 7/29/12 at 5:00pm

[finebydesign]

Posted: 7/29/12 at 5:02pm