Ellerie Hurley in The Little Mermaid
Ten miles from the Mississippi River, the peaceful, corn-stippled town of Eldridge escaped the floods. Yet it is currently awash by the undersea explosion of music, color, joy, laughter, and drama that is Disney's The Little Mermaid, which is being produced by Countryside Community Theatre at the North Scott High School Auditorium.
This musical, which had a 2007 pre-Broadway tryout and a 2012 update, is based on the 1989 tidal-wave-sensation animated film of the same title. In House of Mouse tradition, it was an imaginative rewrite, more palatable to modern audiences, of the Hans Christian Andersen story about a seaborn lass who longs to live on land. This production was helmed by perpetual-motion actor and director Tristan Tapscott, with another frequent area performer, Wendy Czekalski, serving as music director, and they're joined by a top-shelf cast, crew, and musicians to create an ocean of engaging fun.
Doug Wright's book includes new plot points, reveals backstory, and introduces changes, particularly in Act II. These additions enrich the narrative, make staging easier, or improve the overall tone – including by having Ariel, not Eric, save the day in the ultimate conflict. The music is by Alan Menken, with original movie's lyrics by Howard Ashman, while 10 new songs (with lyrics by Glenn Slater, as Ashman died in 1991) blend well with those many of us know by heart. (I played my VHS copy of the movie a lot.)
Tapscott's four Little Mermaid leads are marvelous actors with tremendous singing voices. Ellerie Hurley plays Ariel with refreshing naïveté. Her voice is lovely, and wisely, she doesn't go operatic or pop style as if she were on The Voice, instead keeping things sweet, earnest, and simple. Carter Jargo is such an appealing Prince Eric – an upbeat, regular guy with impeccable manners and royally astonishing vocals. Enthusiastic cheering followed Jargo's "Her Voice," though we were all marveling at his voice. Nicholas Munson plays Ursula so well, it's as if this villain arose from the original inked cels, locked deep inside a Disney compound along with Walt's head. (Kidding!) However, Munson does not mimic the legendary Pat Carroll, who first voiced the Sea Witch. He's originally, deliciously devious and mocking, with a diabolical laugh – a fun flavor of evil. He also channels the sass of a world-weary drag performer who nevertheless keeps dreaming big. And I wouldn't have guessed that Croix Baker, as King Triton, was a college student. With only a gray wig, a trident, and his somber face, stance, and demeanor, Baker becomes a formidable ancient ruler, and with a powerful voice to match.
The amazing Joseph Nguyen gives us a droll, loveable Sebastian the crab. He scurries, jumps, tumbles, and slides, yet keeps his vivid red lounge suit immaculate and his top hat on, never seeming to run out of breath. The enviably talented Jack Carslake delivers, as always, as Flounder – here, he's a teen with a crush on the finned redhead. Zoe Zelnio plays the malaprop-afflicted seagull Scuttle with zest and a wealth of physical comedy. Mallory Carslake serves juicy ham as Chef Louis in "Les Poissons." At one point, the actor's mustache fell off, and she chucked it over her shoulder with a shrug. Similarly, when a practical effect of Triton magically overturning props didn't work, Baker simply threw them. I adore these sorts of “On with the show!” moments.
Countryside mainstay Wayne Hess plays the prince's advisor Grimsby with an attitude matching his name, and Yvonne Siddique and Stacy Barnett are comically menacing as Ursula's marine-eel underlings Flotsam and Jetsam. Ariel's mer-sisters Erica Hillyer, Grace Mottet, Jillian Darland, Madison Fouts, Regan Tucker, and Tatum Kilburg, alongside Flounder, perform a catchy, '50s-flavored "She's in Love." The Little Mermaid's adult ensemble includes Analisa Percuoco, Charlotte Madden, Kate Holsen, and Nate Gaghagen. They and the mer-sisters pitch in as choruses of sailors, birds, and chefs. Meanwhile, the youth ensemble features Addison McFarland, Ambellina Kelly, Anatasia McFarland, Evelyn Beltran, Evelyn Rowe, Jo Forgie, Madeline Rigg, and Zenziwe Dlamini, all of whom add a charming spark to the company.
Diction and projection on Saturday were very good overall, though I missed some lines when characters talked too fast or were unable to out-shout the music. And I admired the neat, no-fuss, yet very effective staging, as when sailors brought on three curved sections of railing and a ship's wheel. In moments, with a projected animated sea backdrop, they're on the waters. Costume coordinator Savannah Strandin contributed much to the beautiful visuals, including the mer-sisters' Crayola-hued sequined tails and wigs and Ursula's fabulous black-tentacled gown and long lilac gloves. Czekalski leads a gifted eight-person pit ensemble that includes four keyboardists, accounting, in part, for the full-orchestra sound. Between the underscoring, the overture, and the entr'acte, this show boasts more than 30 songs and music cues.
I saw Disney's animated The Little Mermaid in 1989, and it was plenty enjoyable – the spectacle of "Under the Sea,” in particular, stunned me. I was spellbound, and then, unforgettably, overwhelmed. On Saturday, I wearily skimmed the program notes urging me to become a child, escape into magic, blah blah blah. And Countryside's rendition of "Under the Sea" was glittery, lively, and exuberant. Good times. But then, at the song's culmination, it happened again: Childlike wonder engulfed me. Against all odds, they did it.
Countryside Community Theatre's The Little Mermaid runs at the North Scott High School Fine Arts Auditorium (200 South First Street, Eldridge IA) through August 4, and more information and tickets are available by visiting CountrysideQC.org.
