Theater Review: 'Mermaid' takes a colorful trip under the sea

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Billy Masuck as King Triton, right, with his daughter, Ariel, played by Savannah Sinclair in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Billy Masuck as King Triton, right, with his daughter, Ariel, played by Savannah Sinclair in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

It’s tricky turning a movie into a successful Broadway musical, and perhaps even more challenging when the original was an animated film. You can see some of the challenges at work in the alternately cheerful and clunky stage version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” which received its area debut at the Manatee Performing Arts Center Thursday night.

Brian Chunn as the crab Sebastian leads the cast in singing "Under the Sea" in "The Little Mermaid" at the Manatee Players. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Brian Chunn as the crab Sebastian leads the cast in singing "Under the Sea" in "The Little Mermaid" at the Manatee Players. PHOTO PROVIDED BY MANATEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The show is based on the hit 1989 film with a score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman that rejuvenated Disney’s animation business and ushered in a new era of musicals that originated in Hollywood instead of on Broadway. But in this stage adaptation, one of Disney’s few Broadway misses, the show features familiar characters and situations within a more bloated story. The stage version features the original film’s hits like “Part of Your World” and “Kiss the Girl” and some generally forgettable new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright.

But director and choreographer Rick Kerby, along with his design team and cast, turn it into a colorful, inventively staged and sometimes tuneful show that is probably best for young audiences just discovering the magic of the theater. They can easily get caught up in the show’s inspiring and determined heroine, played by a spunky Savannah Sinclair, who dreams of living on land and falling in love with a prince.

In the show’s Academy Award-winning song, “Under the Sea,” you might feel animation has come to life with an assortment of brightly colored fish dancing around the stage with costumes by Becky Evans or as part of the clever set by Ken Mooney and the bright lighting by Michael Pasquini, who does a great job of filtering light as if through waves.

Savannah Sinclair plays Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of experiencing life on land in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. Photo provided by Manatee Performing Arts Center

Savannah Sinclair plays Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of experiencing life on land in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. Photo provided by Manatee Performing Arts Center

Sinclair is delightful as Ariel, the mermaid who floats and flies (under water, of course) with determination mixed with naivete. She makes everything seem pretty effortless. So does Christina Capehart, playing the grandly wicked sea witch Ursula, who gives you a spine-tingling sense of comical fear when she sings “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

Alex Zickafoose has some charm as Prince Eric and Brian Craft is suitably pushy and deferential as his guardian Grimsby. Billy Masuck puts some command into his performance as Ariel’s father, King Triton, and while his accent varies widely, Brian Chunn is an energetic charmer as Sebastian, the crab who keeps an eye on Ariel.

Emma Diner puts a lot of energy into her role as the comical seagull Scuttle and leading a lively (if superfluous) tap dance with the other gulls to the song “Positoovity.” While silly, it is fun to see all those flapping bird wings.

Savannah Sinclair plays Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of experiencing life on land in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. Photo provided by Manatee Performing Arts Center

Savannah Sinclair plays Ariel, a mermaid who dreams of experiencing life on land in "The Little Mermaid" at Manatee Players. Photo provided by Manatee Performing Arts Center

The cast is performing to pre-recorded music, but musical directors Rick Bogner and Kyle Ann Lacertosa have the cast well-prepared and that recording does provide some lush sounds.

Kerby and his cast keep the show floating, and the youngest audience members could be heard oohing and aahing at some moments, especially when bubbles started floating down onto them. In its own way, the show could create some new theater fans.

THEATER REVIEW
"THE LITTLER MERMAID"
Book by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby. Reviewed Dec. 3, Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton. Through Dec. 20. 748-5875; manateeperformingartscenter.com 

THEATER REVIEW
"THE LITTLER MERMAID"
Book by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Directed and choreographed by Rick Kerby. Reviewed Dec. 3, Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton. Through Dec. 20. 748-5875; manateeperformingartscenter.com 
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Jay Handelman

Jay Handelman is the theater and television critic for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where he has worked since 1984. He also is President of the Foundation of the American Theatre Critics Association and a two-time past chairman of the association's executive committee. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4931. Follow him at @jayhandelman on Twitter. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: December 9, 2015
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