Their new production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ is magical fun for any age
This musical underwater experience starts the minute you open the doors at Candlelight. The lobby instantly transports you to a subaquatic wonderland filled with jellyfish and bubbles and waves and fishes allowing for awesome photo opportunities with the littles.
The Little Mermaid is more than just a play — it truly is an experience, a very delightful experience. In that same underwater lobby, you have the option to purchase some “props” and souvenirs to be used at certain points throughout the performance. Children and adults alike welcomed the opportunity to participate in the sing-alongs.
Directed by Matthew Dailey and expertly and beautifully choreographed by Kate Vallee, the story of The Little Mermaid is brought to vivid and bright light on the underwater sea-scaped stage of Candlelight. It is the Disney story we all all know and love:. Ariel (Susanna Cathryn Ballenski), the youngest of King Triton’s (Scott Hurst Jr.) seven daughters, spends more time above water than under water lately. She is fascinated by the unknown world of humans.
Susanna Cathryn Ballenski as Ariel | Photo: RDGPhotography
Together with her friends Flounder (Jack Olson) and Scuttle (Ethan Knowles), she becomes more and more curious about this other world. When the sea-loving human Prince Eric (Jack Wardell) falls overboard, Ariel rescues him. But she leaves before he has the chance to thank her, but not before the two instantly fall in love with one another.
Prince Eric spends his time searching for Ariel, while Ariel makes a deal with the underwater version of the devil, Ursula (Kelly Maur) — King Triton’s evil sister, whom he banned years ago. Ariel gives Ursula her voice, and in return, she gets legs and three days to get the prince to kiss her.
While the story is familiar, what isn’t is the fantastical, otherworldliness of the costumes and the set and the choreography. I was very much blown away and on the edge of my seat. I heard one little girl near me say, “It’s hard to do a play under the sea.” Very true, but costume designer Debra Faber and scenic designer Brian Watson and all the wonderful cast members surely made it look effortless.
With very few human characters, Faber had her work cut out for her designing costumes for the lovable crab, Sebastian (Ghandia Johnson), the formidable giant squid, Ursula, various other bright and colorful sea creatures, and even the water. Oh, and seven beautiful mermaids, of course. She must have used every creative bone in her body to create these magical, sea-like characters. I could watch it all again just to focus on the whimsy. Even the orchestra were underwater characters as their heads poked up from the pit to reveal more sea life below.
The stage is set with coral and waves and moving pieces when needed above sea — a second-story tower from which the prince searches for his love, the ship from which he falls, the rowboat in which he eventually woos Ariel. Every single detail lends itself to the magical underwater experience.
Complete with all the favorite songs familiar from the movie — “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Soul,” and “Kiss the Girl” (props please) — The Little Mermaid fulfills every dream a young child, or young at heart might have. And of course, the dinner theatre has a full menu of sea-themed drinks, apps and entrees to go along with the fun on stage.
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