Designed by Lily Chen and Maya Shah, Design Editor and Co-T/E Life Editor
Written by Abbie Preston, Staff Reporter
Conestoga’s theater department made a splash with its rendition of the beloved Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid,” as the spring musical. Set under the sea, the production introduced an underwater element, setting it apart from previous performances.
“It’s a more involved musical because half of it is underwater. It has its own set of challenges because it’s not in a human world,” said senior Vivian Dong, who played a mersister and princess in the production. “We’re trying to minimize walking as much as possible, so wherever you’re traveling, you’re Heelying. It’s been a learning curve, but it’s been fun.”
To simulate the fluid movements of underwater characters, the cast had to learn how to use Heelys — shoes with wheels on the soles. Junior Kathleen Manion, assistant to the director, said that implementing this footwear came with challenges. She initially had concerns about incorporating Heelys into the musical.
“They (the cast) bought (Heelys) on their own and learned at their houses,” Manion said. “But when they came, it was really hard because the stage is much different from their houses, so they had to get used to doing it on stage but also learning different speeds.”
The use of Heelys also posed challenges for choreography, limiting the range of movements.
“They can’t do as many spins and all the dance moves we would usually do,” Manion said. “It was hard to choreograph in the beginning because some people had learned and some people hadn’t learned, so we weren’t sure if we would even be able to use them.”
The incorporation of Heelys contributed to the authentic underwater atmosphere that was crucial to the musical. The deliberate set design ensured clear differentiation between underwater and land scenes. Teal-tinted lighting, underwater props like rocks and sea plants, and blue screens characterized underwater scenes, whereas land scenes featured typical architectures and brighter stage lighting.
The production also reused certain set pieces like reversibles, which have a different set on each side of the panel and versatile nature elements suitable for both underwater and land scenes.
“When it’s underwater, it’s dark. When it’s on land, you see the sun and Prince Eric. The audience can tell when it’s not underwater,” said senior Charlie Henderson, who played Chef Louis in the production. “We use rocks, where you can move them in different spots, but put different things on them to make it look like a different scene.”
Dong looked forward to performing the musical and watching all the various components come together on stage.
“My favorite part about musicals is seeing it all come together and being a small part of it,” Dong said. “There’s lights and there’s sound and there’s costumes, and it’s really cool to be a part of that at ’Stoga.”
A Review
By Maya Shah, Co-T/E Life Editor
A Walt Disney classic, “The Little Mermaid” follows Ariel as she struggles between her fascination with humans and her love for home. After falling in love with Prince Eric, Ariel chooses to forfeit her voice for a chance at winning his heart.
Overall, the production was a charming display of the cast’s impressive vocal talent. Despite lacking the emotional depth or theatrical technicality of past productions, it featured lovable characters and cute costumes that breathed life into a familiar tale.
Both Ariels, juniors Claire Arnault and Eve Rosenstein, were talented vocalists and assured actresses. After joining forces with senior James Korbel as Prince Eric, the pairs portrayed an endearing rendition of the fairytale couple. Senior Beatrice Duska gave a standout performance as Ursula, capturing the character’s confidence with the perfect combination of commanding stage presence and powerful vocals.
The supporting cast undoubtedly brought the production to life. Junior Orlando Cruz as Sebastian maintained sharp vocals and masterful storytelling, adding to the magic of key ensemble numbers such as “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.” Flounder, played by sophomore Izzy Abramowitz, was bright and cheerful, further lightening the mood on stage.
From fish to frogs, the ensemble played each of its parts with unbridled enthusiasm. The six Mersisters brought welcome bouts of comedy to each of their scenes and maintained an amusing chemistry with other characters. Dance scenes were well-choreographed and precisely executed, adding to the excitement of important numbers.
The set lacked the unique physicality central to past Conestoga sets, instead more heavily relying on projections and lighting. While detailed, the projections failed to match the vivid, fun-colored costumes in the portrayal of lively Atlantica. The use of Heelys was an unexpected addition that added to the underwater component of the musical, compensating for the understated set.
“The Little Mermaid” was another impressive musical performed by ’Stoga Music Theatre. Despite lacking a grand set or big message, the production had talent in spades, ultimately doing justice to a beloved tale.
Lily Chen can be reached at [email protected].
Abbie Preston can be reached at [email protected].
Maya Shah can be reached at [email protected].
