[BroadwayBud]

Has anyone seen The Little Mermaid on Broadway yet? If so, would you care to comment on absolutely anything about the show? Content, new songs, performers, staging, scenery, lighting, special effects, costumes - anything and everything!

[pish123c]

It's not even running yet.

[BroadwayBud]

Really? I thought it opened earlier this summer...oops. Well, is anyone looking forward to it then?

[bean_C4U]

It's previewing in Denver. Apparently it's good, but it could be better.

[BroadwayBud]

Here are a bunch of detailed reviews about the preview in Denver. As you scroll down, the reviews become more recent and you can tell that Disney is already making improvements. It sounds like Act II needs to be re-worked BIG TIME. I hope they make the necessary changes so that The Little Mermaid will be a success on Broadway.

http://www.denverpost.com/littlemermaid/ci_6430845

[singingmagician]

So they really perform on those stupid Healey shoes?? I has heard the rollerblade rumors...but I was hoping they were false Anyone know how this plays out?

[BroadwayBud]

According to the link, all the sea creatures are on heelies so they glide around. Some of the reviews say they work well, others say they don't like them. Who knows.

[The Very Angry Woman]

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945853

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945535

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945544

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945539

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945199

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945249

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945492

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=945021

[Y0UCANTST0PTHEBEAT]

All I know is that they better patch things up and rewrite the entire second act before Broadway, because all of the reviews I've read have been terribly negative.

[star2ballie]

[Y0UCANTST0PTHEBEAT]

[star2ballie]

SO much better! You're welcome, and thanks for changing it.

[Y0UCANTST0PTHEBEAT]

No problem, honey!

[broadwaygirl89]

http://broadwayworld.com/mermaidvote.cfm?id=202&vote=on

please vote for my friend!

[santtu]

To answer your question:

yes, I have.

They need to do a bit more than just re-write the Act 2!

For example, Ursula (brilliantly played by Sherie Rene Scott) is now King Triton's sister! Why has this change been made? This change doesn't add anything to the characters or the plot. An unnecessary change.

The seagull (was the name Scuttle? anyway, the bird) is now completely useless and unnecessary character. In the movie, his main function was discovering that Vanessa was Ursula in disguise and he alerts everyone and gets all the animals to help to stop her plans. Now, Ursula doesn't become Vanessa and that leaves no meaning in having Scuttle in the show. He sings two (awful!!) songs that could just as well be cut - they're not needed, now they are just there to add some running time to the show!

The actor playing the Prince Erik (Sean Palmer) is too old for this part. His character is about to celebrate his 21st birthday and the actor looks like he's 42. And I wasn't even sitting in the first row... He sings extremely well, though.

Act 2 scene "One Step Closer" should be cut. It is slowing things down and, sorry to say, is way too long and boring.

The "heelie shoes", or whatever they're called, doesn't really make it look like they're swimming. Ok, I understand that using the wires would be so much more limiting and they'd have to connect and disconnect the actors to the wires all the time.

Sebastian is played awfully! Tituss Burgess is a great singer - he hits a couple of incredibly high notes - but his acting makes Sebastian more than anything annoying and irritating and most of the time you just wish he'd leave the stage. Which is sad 'cause in the movie he was such a sweet and lovely character...

Norm Lewis and Sherie Rene Scott are both so under-used!!! Scott's scenes are the best thing in this show!! They're amazing!

But the show is not all bad - not by a long shot! Visually it is very good, though not the "oh-my-god-WOW!!!!" good. Some of the new songs are great - especially Ursula's new solo number "I Want The Good Times Back" which is one of the catchiest songs in a very long time!! And the characters Flotsom & Jetsom are great and very well written - though their costumes make them look more like lizards (iguanas) than fish. They're not stealing the show but they totally stand out. And their song "Sweet Child" is very seductive and hypnotic.

All in all, the show has its flaws but even with them it is a show worth seeing.

[mastachen]

I seriously considered watching it.

But I had better uses for $110.

I bought student rush tickets for Spring Awakening at $26 instead, and I didn't even wake up early for them!! Oh the money I saved

[The_Megster]

i think the mermaid costume makes her look like shes half dragon... actually i think all of the costumes need a little work

[hippo2002]

I really love the film
and I'm looking forward the musical
I think ERIC (in the picture below) is a little old

[lckysvn777]

I saw it and I loved it. The only problem I had was Flounders costume. All it was was a oversized shirt and a pair of shorts.

[EponineMNFF]

I saw it. First, I want to say that was the most poorly behaved audience I was ever a member of. It was embarrassing. It wasn't just the kids--that's understandable. The adults talked through the overture! Gah!

The show was fun. I agree that Flouder's costume was awful. His wig was pretty neat though. I thought the wheely shoes were a good idea, but they didn't work out perfectly. Another note about the costumes--I had trouble suspending my disbelief with the mermaid costumes. They just looked a bit weird. Also, the actors wacked each other with their tails and got stuck in scenery a few times. I also wish the mermaid sisters didn't wear those awful flesh colored shirts. They just don't look real.

Norm Lewis was fabulous, as was Sherie Rene Scott. I also wish they were in it more, but I really enjoyed the actress playing Ariel's performance.

I actually liked how Sebastian was played, but it's entirely possible that I was so blown away by his voice that I didn't even pay attention to his acting. His voice was AMAZING. Just amazing. I can't even describe it. I would buy the cast recording just for him.

I LOVED "Sweet Child." That was such a fun number.

In general, I had a really good time, though there is a bit to be worked out. I also wish the audience would get some manners. You can forgive kids for talking, but not adults. They should know better.

[dcrowley]

I saw it and LOVED it... I saw it when it was still in previews. I thought it was gorgeous and the actors were all great. I actually liked it better than The Lion King.

[lovesinging]

I'll be seeing it in March. I'm so glad you guys liked it; I was pretty worried that it would be horrible, but this was my only show choice.

Wow that's a long sentence. I feel like I'm reverting to 5th grader writing.