Review: THE LITTLE MERMAID, Watermill Theatre
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
Regular visitors to The Watermill are well used to the sound of water flowing around and below the venue - but now it seems the playing space has been submerged too! Designer April Dalton has created a magical seaside and underwater world as the backdrop to Elgiva Field and Lara Barbier’s new reworking of The Little Mermaid.
This charming retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson tale uses its actor-musician cast to transport the audience to a Cornish fishing village, populated by seafaring residents who are only too aware of the perils of the ocean, and have grown up with folklore of what hides in its murky depths.
However, the depths where the seafolk live are far from murky! With sparkling mermaid costumes, bodies adorned with glitter and Emma Chapman’s fantastically aquatic lighting design, Waterworld is a place of glorious technicolour. Our protagonist, Merryn (Annabelle Aquino), awakes on her 18th birthday, bristling with excitement at being able to visit the surface of the sea for the first time. Aquino delivers a beautiful performance as Merryn, and her stunning vocals steal many of the musical numbers throughout the piece. The fact that she spends most of the second act completely mute is a crying shame – however integral to the plot! Although warned by her Father, King Taran (Christopher Staines) and her sister Senara (Lucinda Freeburn) to be cautious and stay well away from the land people, Merryn defies them, and ends up rescuing local fisherman Cadan (Tom Babbage) from certain death in a ferocious storm. Entranced by her first glimpse of what the world beyond the sea looks like, Merryn returns home to find that her brother Kitto (Zach Burns) is missing.
Burns is a marvellous comic performer and brings a childlike glee to the role of Kitto, which makes it impossible not to fear for his safety at the hands of Cornish Smugglers! Will his sister reach him on time to save him? The mild peril plays out with a few surprising twists and, at times, a touch of melodrama, but reaches the ultimately satisfying conclusion you would hope for from a family Christmas show.
As always at The Watermill, the musical elements of the piece are undeniably accomplished. The music and lyrics for this production have been written by Amie Parsons, who is one half of a Cornish folk-duo, and anyone who has spent any time in the county will recognise the folksy style of shanty song. Parsons’ compositions are skilfully performed by the cast of seven, with able leadership from Jamie Ross, the onstage Musical Director,
Naomi Oppenheim has created some gorgeous puppets, including the most adorable seal pup to ever grace a stage, and these are artfully brought to life by various members of the cast throughout the play. Alongside Chapman’s playful lighting design, and April Dalton’s beautiful set and costume design, the visual elements of the show are utterly enchanting.
The Little Mermaid is a charming, magical family show which provides a beautiful option for those looking for something a more gentle than pantomime this festive season, and audiences of all ages are sure to be drawn in by the mythical land of Waterworld (and leave with quite the ear worm!).
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sarah Brown
The Little Mermaid plays at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre until 4 January, with further info here.