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Peer Reviews

The Little Mermaid

A review by Kevin Temple

Entire contents copyright © 2008 Kevin Temple. All rights reserved.

When I hear The Little Mermaid, I quickly think of an animated Disney movie. However, Derby Dinner Playhouse, with the help of director Jim Hesselman, bring to life the tale of a beautiful mermaid named Ariel, a fairy tale created by none other than Hans Christian Anderson, the same author that brought us tales such as The Ugly Duckling and The Brave Tin Soldier. So, right away, we are comfortable in knowing that this non-animated rendition of The Little Mermaid will be nothing less than a fantastic story.

The Children's Musical Theater at Derby Dinner Playhouse makes everyone young and not-so-young feel right at home. Bravo the star makes the rounds before the show begins to capture the imagination of the audience. The story is briefly narrated by two wonderful, funny, energetic and charismatic fish named Angel and Gil, played by Cary Wiger and Bill Hanna. They raise the energy of the audience quickly, and make the entrance of the beautiful Ariel seem effortless. Colette Delaney-Barney plays the lovely mermaid Ariel, who attempts to see what life is like above the sea. Her voice is heard beautifully throughout the theater, as is her depiction of the trials that Ariel must go through to find true love. One of her older sisters, Coral, played by Megan Muller, tries to convince her that she has to wait till she's sixteen years old before she can go to the surface. We all know what happens when you tell youngsters that they can't do something ... it's like saying, "Don't push the red button" — they're going to do it. Megan accompanies Colette in a beautiful song that tingles your ear.

Going to the surface and falling in love with a handsome prince (played by Brian Bowman) has its consequences. No, being in love is not a consequence, but wishing you had legs so you can be with the one you love only summons up an over-the-top hilarious sea witch named Seavatox, played by Rita Thomas. As evil as Seavatox was supposed to be, the audience just had to laugh and applaud at her antics on stage. After stealing Ariel's voice, which she could only get back by winning the heart of the prince, Seavatox drinks a potion that makes her young and beautiful in order to spoil Ariel's plan. Megan Muller serves double duty, as she does an amazing job and mimics almost too well the mannerisms of Rita Thomas's Seavatox.

Paul Kerr commands the stage with a thunderous voice as he plays Ariel's father, King Neptune, and in the end does what any loving father would do. Hopefully, you know what that is; and either way, you won't want to miss this enchanting play. The Children's Musical Theater at Derby Dinner Playhouse hits one out of the ballpark and deep into the sea, as it captures the attention of young and old in its rendition of Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid.

The Little Mermaid
Children's Musical Theater at Derby Dinner Playhouse
May 17, 24, 31
June 7, 14
To Order Tickets:
(812)-288-8281

Breakfast Performances
Doors: 9am
Buffet: 9-10am
Curtain: 10am

Lunch Performances
Doors: 12 pm (noon)
Buffet: 12-1pm
Curtain: 1:15pm

www.derbydinner.com

Posted May 20, 2008