Theater Review: MyArt's "The Little Mermaid" (2018)

One of the greatest gifts that the average Disney movie brings with it is a new template of timeless music that anyone can sing. They're so infectious and encourage people to sing along in. It's hard to be mad while singing Disney, and it's something that MyArt realized when presenting their recent production of The Little Mermaid at Millikan High School this past month. It was a chance to sing great songs like "Under the Sea" and "Part of Your World" while dance numbers in colorful costumes featuring everyone's favorite red-haired mermaid. The production was a chance for young artists to express themselves, and they did so with a wonderful passion that brought the music to life and made for a fun night of local theater.
One of the best aspects of MyArt has been their involvement with the community. Each production involves training for children to teach them the importance of live theater. Everyone who completes the training is guaranteed a part in the show, which works very well for The Little Mermaid. The large cast featured everything from central roles to dancers in fish costumes who added a sense of grandeur to the music numbers. It was a great night under the sea, in large part because of the earnest production and talented performers bringing their all to every memorable scene, including some songs from the Broadway production. Even the crew who quickly moved set pieces into place and adjusted the audio mixes were performed by young MyArt participants, which helped to give a greater sense of accomplishment. What's also incredible is their ability to create the illusion of swimming and flying with high wire performances that took the actors into the air, swinging along to the rhythm of the performers below.
It helps that the central cast also featured a talented mix of young actors filling all major roles. In spite of occasional production issues, every performer managed to outshine the flaws with an enthusiasm that played to the back row. The dancers brought supporting fish roles to life in often comical ways, and the iconic music was given a deep and earnest passion that received enthusiastic applause after every number. It was a moment that proved that part of Disney's appeal isn't just that the music is catchy, but that it's full of life and wonder. Even the show's sillier moments had a captivating element as the show overcame its budgetary limitations to find the actors willing to participate in sea-based puns, slapstick gags, and clever use of a stage - often resorting to using the orchestra pit as a place where where land meets the sea.
It's important to note that this isn't a verbatim reprise of the movie. While the story features the familiar music and has some of the same beats, the story is adapted from a Broadway version that features more music that allows Ariel's complicated relationship with father King Triton to have more of an emotional investment. Other supporting players, such as Ariel's sisters, are also given bigger roles that allow the various actresses to shine. In some ways, it's an improvement over the iconic film in helping to make certain characters more interesting and have more of a rewarding arc. Of course, it's also interesting to see some of the more supernatural scenes come to life with practical effects and set changes that never slow down the pacing of the story. 
The Little Mermaid is another great example of why teaching the arts to children is vital. What it lacks in grand production, it makes up for with enthusiasm and a cast embracing their roles with a charm that radiates through every line. For a show that takes place in both land and sea, both had a familiarity to them on stage that worked effectively in their simplicity. Of course, it helps that the music is so good that anyone can sing it well. Thankfully, this group did a great job bringing those iconic numbers to life. Up next is a production of Peter Pan, which is currently taking participants. If you or someone you knows would like to enjoy the magic of live theater, please visit their website for more information:  www.myart.org . Hope to see you in the next show!

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