Curtis Brown Photography
Little Mermaid
NC Theatre is currently performing Disney’s The Little Mermaid at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. My family and I had the privilege of being in attendance on opening night and found the production spectacular!
The Little Mermaid has always been one of my favorite Disney movies. I love the setting of the story, the music and the characters. This theatrical rendition was just as good, if not better, than the beloved animated version. There were additional details within the play which enhanced the original plot such as the whereabouts of Ariel’s mother and the reasons behind Ursula’s evil.
The underwater setting was masterfully created through beautiful scenery with fluid elements. The props and special effects added a magical touch to each scene. There was also the use of image projection that allowed for “swimming” and “floating through water”.
Act One consisted of 14 musical numbers while Act Two had 11. A few of the songs were old favorites from the movie, while others were new to me. The NC Theater Orchestra did a wonderful job of creating the mood of each scene with their musical talent, while the actors and actresses skillfully sang each song.
The characters were played by seasoned actors as well as student actors. A hand-full of the actors have been on Broadway and most of the others have a very impressive resume. My favorite character was Sebastian played by Alan Mingo Jr. His antics as the tenacious crab kept me laughing throughout the play. I also appreciated Ellen Harvey in the role of Ursula. She was quite believable as the evil queen and her singing was amazing. However, the young Joseph Gaitens that played Flounder really was a true crowd pleaser. This young man has talent and I’m sure he will do well in future theatrical endeavors.
Overall, the show was amazing and was enjoyed by children as well as adults. Leaving the theater, I heard nothing but positive comments from all patrons.
The show will continue at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium through August 3 and tickets can be purchased here.
