From the second the show began, Ariel, played by Sydney Miller, captivated the audience’s attention with her mesmerizing voice. A rush of childhood nostalgia flooded over me as Ariel sang her opening ballad. The audience was transported to the magical deep blue ocean, with the sun shining on the horizon. From the enthralling performances to the sparkling sea creatures, DGN’s production of “The Little Mermaid” offered an impressive rendition of the classic tale.
One of the most memorable parts of the production was the elaborate and astonishing set design. Whether the scene took place in the depths of the ocean or within the walls of Prince Eric’s castle, the bright colors, and realistic design carried the audience away to the fictional land.
The cast brought the lovable and classic characters to life with vibrancy and excitement. The cast matched their roles to a tee, as seen in the cynical personalities of Ursula’s sidekicks, Flotsam and Jetsam, portrayed by Tana Purcell and Kate France and in the hilarious role of Scuttle the seagull played by Zach Landman. I was particularly swept away by Caleb McCloud’s (Prince Eric) vocal abilities. While he is no stranger to the stage, having appeared in three plays, “The Little Mermaid” was McClouds first ever musical production.
Miller and McClouds stage chemistry was radiant, and entrancing. Whether it was during “Kiss the Girl” or just a quick scene shared together on stage, the audience could feel the connection. In addition to the performers, the live pit orchestra carried the story of Eric and Ariel falling in love wonderfully. Even in a musical piece with no words, the audience felt the romance through the instruments.
While a majority of the audience was familiar with the classic Disney plot, DGN theater found a refreshing way to keep us on the edge of our seats. The musical offered a variety of new songs and scenes, but still pleased anyone who grew up loving the traditional tale of Ariel. The most exciting new song was “Daddy’s Little Angel” where Ursula, (Brianna Cappello) put on a cruel and bewitching performance taunting Ariel. The new song added an extra edge to Ursula’s character making the audience despise her even more.
The costumes were very clever, each sea creature bright and clearly identifiable. Birds had large feathers, the mer-sisters had beautiful tails with matching corset tops, and Sebastian had a vibrant red suit. The costumes matched the vivid musical, and added some additional color to underwater scenes.
DGNs production of “The Little Mermaid” was a show to remember. The talent was evident, the show was sweetly nostalgic, and the set/costume design was very impressive.
