I was invited to see Little Mermaid at the Fox Theatre and let me tell you, WHAT AN AMAZINGLY WHIMSICAL TREAT!
Before I talk about the obvious (Ariel) … 
I must give a nod to the over-the-top crustacean that clawed at my heart and stole the show — Sebastian the crab as played by Alan Mingo Jr!
The stage show dazzled with glitz while the characters stayed in motion giving you a feel as if they were indeed underwater and flying through the air (they were tethered to cables). Mingo kicked the stage show up with a show-stopping rendition of Under the Sea. I was in awe and to me that segment was the highlight of the night. He was funny, engaging and razzled and dazzled the audience.
The national touring show of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” which plays at the Fox Theatre through Sunday, is based on a young mermaid, Ariel, who is raised by a single father. She feels she doesn’t fit in with her family under the sea, so she gives up her identity as a mermaid to gain human abilities and live on land. The director, Glenn Casale, along with the musical’s script writers, have revamped the script a bit to focus on the sensitive and ubiquitous topic: coming of age.
Another stand out performance is Liz McCartney as Ursula. Evil and cunning McCartney carried the role well and had a big presence and bigger voice which was the perfect combo for her larger-than-life persona as Ursula. Her performance is thrilling, and chilling. I loved her.
As Ariel, Jessica Grové is beautiful and graceful. She is as sweet and enchanting as the cartoon rendition of Ariel. She has a beautiful angelic voice and she played her role to perfection.
The staging of the show works well with the flying effects to simulate swimming and the brilliant choreography by John MacInnis makes the characters seem as though they are actually in the water. What I loved best of that this play has been revamped to include new-age tools and trinkets like Ursula’s henchmen gliding around with sneaker skates and on a skateboard.
Part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta Series, Disney’s The Little Mermaid runs through July 13, 2014 at the Fox Theatre. For more information, please visit http://www.broadwayinatlanta.com/. Tickets are available online, at the Fox Theatre box office or by phone at 855-285-8499. The show’s runtime is around two and half hours with an intermission.
Disclosure: I was given 4 complimentary tickets to see this show but all opinions are my own.
Wow! It all looks so magical!