Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID at Theatre Baton Rouge

Turning an animated film into a live stage production has its challenges, and Disney's "THE LITTLE MERMAID" is no exception as it adds the complication of a world set almost entirely underwater with characters that know more about swimming than skipping. But Disney is king at handling this sort of transition, as shown by the company's Broadway hits based on the animated classics "THE LION KING" and "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST." And as was the case with those two shows, "THE LITTLE MERMAID" is elevated by an award-winning score that is sure to turn on the nostalgia.

As the closer for Theatre Baton Rouge's 2015-2016 season, this production of the undersea rom-com for kids uses quirky, colorful costumes, dazzling lights, and even roller blades (to simulate swimming of course) to conjure a reasonably stimulating aquatic environment. The response to the show has been exceptional with shows selling out each night. The theater has added three shows, extending its run to June 25.

"THE LITTLE MERMAID" is a wonderful choice for the Baton Rouge theater, which has a good following for child-friendly shows such as "MARY POPPINS" or "ANNIE" for its closing mainstage productions. But while some adults may find "THE LITTLE MERMAID" a bit shallow, the children who made up a significant percentage of the audience were clearly fascinated by a story they've no doubt viewed at home dozens of times. Grandparents can score some serious brownie points by taking their grandchildren to this show.

TBR has put together a fine cast of singers and dancers, and they cultivate what is "THE LITTLE MERMAID'S" greatest strength: the wonderful music of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, who brought an animated version of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale to life in 1989. At the head of the class, of course, is the titular mermaid herself, Ariel, the youngest daughter of the undersea monarch King Triton. Ariel is fascinated by the surface world, often sneaking off to watch humans, as noted in the touching opening song, "The World Above."

The role of Ariel is taken by Emily Heck, a lovely young woman who looks great in long red tresses and possess an enchanting voice that sounds Disney perfect on some of the show's other classic songs, including "Part of Your World" and "If Only (Ariel's Lament)."

Heck, who has some experience playing the mermaid princess for a children's party company, looks like she was lifted straight out from a Disney animated storyboard, so perfectly does she embody Ariel. She has an easy onstage charm that works on children and adults alike and exhibits strong romantic chemistry with co-star Brandon Guillory, who portrays her two-legged Prince Eric.

There is some dramatic tension as Ariel goes between land and sea, but this is mostly a romantic romp aimed specifically at drawing delight from the younger patrons. And that was the goal of the show's director Jenny Ballard. Rather than focusing on the sometimes over-the-top glitz and glamor of Disney-level Broadway, she focuses on what Walt himself cared for the most, and that was telling a story, and telling it well.

Ballard got it right.

Ariel is so set on joining Eric in his kingdom that she takes a very big risk by making an unwise deal with her squid-like Aunt Ursula (Dana Lux), a deliciously over-the-top Disney villainess in the tradition of Cruella de Vil and Maleficent. Lox, no stranger to the TBR stage, is delightful as the double-crossing Ursula, who agrees to help Ariel earn her legs in exchange for taking the young woman's beautiful singing voice. What Ariel does not know, is she's also plotting to overthrow her brother Triton (fellow TBR vet Chip Davis).

Along with her eely minions Flotsam and Jetsam (Jacob Voisin and Lauren Regner), Lux nails some of the show's devilishly clever tunes, including "Daddy's Little Angel" and the ever-popular "Poor Unfortunate Souls."

As is usually the case with Disney, there are certain secondary characters amongst the large cast who are far more than window dressing. That includes a Caribbean crustacean named Sebastian (Tony Collins) and a goofy gull named Scuttle (Thomas Jackson). Collins, dressed head to toe in a red conductor's suit, does wonderful work on one of the show's iconic songs, the calypso-styled "Under the Sea." The feathery Jackson, meanwhile, is delightful leading a chorus of tap-dancing seagulls in the goofy "Positoovity," which opens the second act to uproarious applause.

TBR's production is the full-length Broadway version of the show rather than a "junior" version. It, therefore, pushes past the two-hour mark with a 15-minute intermission, which may test the ability of some younger children to remain in their seats.

But that's not a problem, as TBR's stage production of "THE LITTLE MERMAID" provides plenty of laughs and quite a few "awws" that will hold the interest of children and adults too. As usual, Disney gives everyone cause to embrace their inner princess. It's a shame I couldn't take this version of "THE LITTLE MERMAID" home with me on VHS.

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