|
Regional Reviews: Phoenix Disney's The Little Mermaid
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid follows Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of living in the human world after rescuing and falling in love with Prince Eric. Despite the warning from her father, King Triton, that humans are responsible for her mother's death and are forbidden, Ariel makes a dangerous deal with her aunt, the sea witch Ursula, to become human. Ariel has three days to earn Eric's kiss of true love or her soul will belong to Ursula, who is secretly seeking revenge against Triton. The musical features all of the beloved songs from the film along with several new numbers (lyrics by Glenn Slater) that expand the characters and their motivations, particularly Ursula, Eric, and King Triton. While the new songs add depth, they are mainly ballads, which sound slightly similar to each other. Fortunately, there is the fantastic "If Only (Quartet)" and "She's in Love," which is the only new song that matches the infectious appeal of the movie's classic songs like "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," both of which become standout production numbers under Cambrian James' sure-footed direction and upbeat choreography. Doug Wright's witty book is a fairly by-the-numbers retelling of the film plot, but it does make good use of the undersea setting and includes some very funny fish-themed puns, though Ursula's demise and the ending feel rushed and may leave those unfamiliar with the film slightly confused. This is the third time James has directed and choreographed the show at Hale and his sharp direction ensures the comedic and romantic moments in the show shine bright. Hale's creative team pulls out all the stops, delivering a non-stop parade of colorful costumes by Brielle Hawkes, excellent immersive lighting by Avery Reagan that paints the floor and surrounding walls with shimmering light, evoking life under the sea, and a fantasy-filled set by McKenna Carpenter that also includes video projections to help quickly set each location. The cast's vocals are rich and warm under Lincoln Wright's music direction. While every number in the production is delivered wonderfully, "Under the Sea" is simply superb with the combination of the strong cast and the incredibly impressive creative aspects reaching a crescendo in the number, which features fun dance moves, fantastic lighting, and day-glo costumes with bubbling effects that give a fantastic underwater effect. Hale's cast is great, presenting the famous animated characters they play while also adding fresh original nuances to their portrayals. As Ariel, Brianna McClure projects a perfect balance of youthful inquisitiveness and excitability. Reece Harris oozes charm and boyish exuberance as the very likable Prince Eric. McClure and Harris have rich singing voices that add vibrance to their many numbers and form a realistic duo you root to succeed to overcome their obstacles. Amanda Valenzuela is having a blast playing Ursula, as she injects every line and gesture with devilish glee and her brassy singing voice delivers knockout numbers, including a rousing "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Trevon Powell is appropriately frustrated as Sebastian, Ariel's crab friend who gets to lead two of the show's biggest hits, "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl," which he delivers with an abundance of joy. As Ariel's father, King Triton, Loren Battieste shows both fatherly love and protection, and his gorgeous singing voice adds depth to his songs, especially his contribution in the "If Only" quartet. Joshua South is wonderful as both the scatterbrained seagull Scuttle and the hilarious Chef Louis; his athletic abilities, great comic timing, and strong dance skills make both characters audience favorites. Benicio "Beni" Bermudez is endearing, sweet, and charming as Flounder, Ariel's young fish friend, while Logan Holmes and Gavin Kennedy are appropriately slimy as Ursula's two moray eel henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Justin Howell brings a nice balance of concern and fatherly advice as Eric's guardian, Grimsby. In the ensemble, Gracie Gamble, Evelyn Humphrey, Kayla King, Michala Montaño, Almicke Navarro, and Diana Regard add pops of comedy as Ariel's sisters, and Jiajun Li, Brayden Nesbitt, Truman Regard, Oakley Rinehart, Reegan Regard-Whipple, and Joseph Strode play an assortment of characters with energy and charm. Powell, Battieste, Holmes, Howell, and Montaño all repeat the same roles they played from Hale's 2022 production of the show. While The Little Mermaid sticks close to the film plot and many of the songs added for the stage adaptation are just okay, it is still a winning, humorous, stage musical. With a fantastic cast, sublime creative elements, and sure-footed direction, Hale Centre Theatre's production is a joyful crowd pleaser. Disney's The Little Mermaid runs through August 15, 2026, at Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Avenue, Gilbert AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.haletheatrearizona.com or call 480-497-1181. Music by Alan Menken Cast: |
