THE LITTLE MERMAID – Broadway 2009

Now that Disney gave us the live action remake of their animated classic THE LITTLE MERMIAD, it seems a good time to go back to my Broadway trip of 2009 when I saw their stage adaption of that movie. 

Yes, I saw it 14 years ago and, at the time, I wrote this little review, that now I share it with you, plus images of the Broadway show brochure:

"The most childish of Disney’s stage musicals, this corny musical is more suitable for a Disneyworld performance than for a Broadway stage. There are some good scenic ideas, the cast was convincing, the score sounds great, but that’s it. The choreography is appalling and the “Under the Sea” number resembles a Las Vegas show, the costumes are strikingly terrible and, after a while, the “roller tennis” gimmick stops working. The Ursula (a terrific Heidi Blickenstaff) numbers are the best thing about the show, but they don’t save it."

Cast: Sierra Boggess, Sean Palmer, Heidi Blickenstaff, Norm Lewis, Rogelio Douglas Jr., Eddie Korbich, Jonathan Freeman, Trevor Braun, Eric LaJuan Summer, Joe Abraham 

Creative Team: Music by Alan Menken • Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater • Book by Dough Wright • Choreography by Stephen Mear • Directed by Francesca Zambello

My Rate: 4 (from 1 to 10) / Photos: Joan Marcus