I was thrilled to be in the audience for another Stage Right / Mahokey / Kerestan collaboration. My daughter is one of four talented young people who share the role of the fish sidekick, called “Tailfin” in this version.
The story line is similar to the Disney-movie version of the story about a mermaid who braves the forces of a sea witch to win her prince. Stage Right artistic director Anthony Marino adapted the film script for the stage with original music by David Mahokey of Connellsville, a Point Park University student, and Greg Keresten of Greensburg, a Seton Hill University student. –via ‘Little Mermaid’ brings new music to the Andersen fairy tale – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
King Poseidon lords it over the undersea kingdom.
His daughter Muriel listens to the pelican Snorkel (with a “PhD in Humanology” talk about the human world. (My daughter plays the fish sidekick, called “Tailfin” in this version.)
The sea witch Urliza does a show-stopping evil kick line with eel henchmen.
Muriel gets in trouble.
Tailfin: “Are you closely inspecting the palms of your hands, or are you crying?”
Filling the same role as Disney’s “Part of Your World” is the song “Up on Land.”
Tailfin and Muriel beg Sebastian Deepauli not to tell Daddy about the people thing.
Muriel catches her first sight of a human.
Tailfin tells the undersea sisters that Muriel’s problem is “Guppy Love.”
Big production number “Don’t Make Waves”
She’s got legs now.
Talented singer/dancer/actress (now mute) uses physical comedy in a touching scene.
No rabbit for hasenpfeffer, so… “Crabenpfeffer”
Fantastic, over-the-top villainy.
My girl’s solo starts “(Don’t Let Her Be) The One That Got Away”
Big production number. Sea creatures dancing in the aisles.
“The One That Got Away” is this production’s version of “Kiss the Girl.”
Tailfin (tauntting): “Ooh… he’s mad at yoo-oou!”
I was enjoying the confrontation scene so much I forgot to take pictures. This is a touching scene where Poseidon sings goodbye to his daughter. It provides a closure to the father/daughter relationship that the Disney version rushed through.
The show ends with a reprise of “The One That Got Away.”Hold that pose… lights up full… applause!
Fan art from a friend.
Demonstrating her signature Tailfin butt-wiggle.
At night, instead of getting ready for bed as she was ordered, my ambitious little diva created this costume. (Note fork.)
