The Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) season offers a pair of charming musicals to enchant your summer nights, until August 22.
Based upon the animated classic of the same name, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater, with book by Doug Wright, adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.
Directed and choreographed by Nicol Spinola, this delightful production of the classic tale follows Ariel (Madison Simms), an inquisitive young mermaid, who romanticizes the world and Human Stuff above the sea. After a perilous storm throws Prince Eric overboard, Ariel saves him and falls in love at first sight. Slipping back Under The Sea, she leave the semi-conscious Prince with only a memory of her bewitching voice and a longing in his heart. Reprimanded by her father, King Triton, for venturing above, a petulant Ariel strikes a life-altering bargain with the duplicitous sea witch, Ursula, exchanging her voice for a chance to be human. Watched over by her loyal sea friends – Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle – Ariel sets out to wordlessly win Prince Eric’s heart. Will he Kiss The Girl in time to break Ursula’s curse or will Ariel become another of her Poor Unfortunate Souls? In any case, the audience is certainly fortunate to be able to witness this enchanting spectacle.
In addition to her ethereal voice, Madison Simms is convincingly the lovesick, wide-eyed innocence while also a peevish teenager. As the sea-loving Prince, leading man Pier Francesco Marchi gives us the charismatic, charming prince every fairy tale needs. The ultimate girl dad, Tanner Zerr brings majesty to King Triton, commanding but caring for his sevens daughter. Wrapping them in the protection of his trident, he’s ready to do anything for his own especially when confronting the sea witch! Ursula is one of the best baddies in Broadway and require someone who can fill those tentacles. Cecilly Day is more than up to the task – she steals the scenes with her big voice, and even bigger costume – it takes eight legs to lift her upon the pedestal she deserves as Mistress of the Deep.
Delivering the two most acclaimed numbers, the up-beat calypso Under The Sea and romantic serenade Kiss The Girl, Janelle Reid is perfection as Sebastian. Sophie McKenzie’s Scuttle and her flock of tap-dancing seagulls have got plenty of Positoovity in their big Busby Berkley-esque number, a staple of Disney Musicals that TUTS does so well. With over two dozen performers on stage in some numbers, the scale and precision of the company pay tribute to the excellent chorography of Spinola and Associate Choreographer Julia MacLean. Adding to the epic numbers, Costume Designer Donnie Tejani creates some breathtaking pieces – grounded in regal style and grace for the world above the waves, then the water realm counters with diaphanous costumes that lets audiences’ imaginations fill in the depths of the sea surrounding Set Designer Ryan Cormack’s underwater world.
Malkin Bowl onstage is an underwater world while under it, a 12-member orchestra led by Brent Hughes flood the park with Menken, Ashman and Slater’s iconic, infinitely hummable soundtrack. Echoing long after the curtain call and ovations the looping tunes that linger in our minds are most welcome as they bring a memory of this fantastic fantasy brought to life by the Cast and Company of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Make Disney’s The Little Mermaid a Part of Your World, catch it and its fabulous ‘sister’ show, Sister Act, running alternating nights until August 22, 2026 at Theatre Under The Stars, at Malkin Bowl, 610 Pipeline Road in Stanley Park. Visit tuts.ca for full cast and company list, tickets, showtimes and special performances, like Family Nights, Pride Night, relaxed and Vocal Eye performances.