By Eliza Dosch
Nestled in the red cliffs near Ivins lies one of Southern Utah’s most well-known attractions: the Tuacahn Amphitheatre. Their 2019 summer season features “Disney’s: The Little Mermaid,” a wonderful production of the stage adaptation of Disney’s animated classic. Based on the story originally written by Hans Christian Anderson, “The Little Mermaid” evolved from a dark, grim bedtime story into a bright and vibrant tale about finding love, belonging, and acceptance. From previous experience with the Tuacahn Amphitheatre as well as Tuacahn’s impeccable reputation, I had no doubts that the performance would be spectacular.
I entered the Amphitheatre as the sun set behind the canyon’s vermillion cliffs and caught my first glimpse of the set—talk about making a good first impression. The set, designed by Adam Koch, manages to create an underwater ocean scene that somehow seems to thrive in the middle of the desert. Through painting techniques that give the shells and coral a “chalky” effect, Koch creates a seamless transition from desert-red-rock to under-the-sea. I sat in my chair, beaming with excitement, knowing that the show would be worth seeing solely for the visual effects.
The show begins with a fantastic overture from the orchestra, directed by Christopher Babbage, as a mermaid comes to the surface from beneath the stage. Ariel, played by the wonderful Emily Grace Tucker, ushers in the telling of this delightful tale. Playing the role of King Triton in his Tuacahn debut, Dallyn Vail Bayles gives this stern father a depth of love and compassion, allowing a very real and relatable dynamic between Bayles and Tucker to unfold onstage. Ariel’s sisters, Adella (Alize Cruz), Allana (Elisabeth Evans), Andrina (Emilie Renier), Aquata (Alicia Shumway), Arista (Ellee Anderson), and Atina (Becca Corbin) bring a lot of pep and personality to the performance. Each actress plays a distinct and unique character, and the team works together splendidly bringing a light hearted and humorous flow to their scenes.
Ariel’s sidekicks, Scuttle (Dennis O’Bannion), Flounder (Matthew Marvin), and Sebastian (Wilkie Ferguson III) all do an excellent job of channeling the animal they are playing through physical movement and vocal quality. Their costumes also play a big role in achieving this feat, courtesy of Dustin Cross. The most magnificent costume of the show, in my opinion, is Ursula’s (Lindsay Roginski). During one scene her costume made my jaw drop almost clear to the floor. From her hair and makeup, designed by Daniel Koye, to the tip of her tentacles, Ursula is a work of art. Roginski gives off a “Cruella Deville” vibe through the performance. Ursula, with an unexpected twist, is very unique and refreshing—something that everyone who enjoys Disney is going to want to see. While Roginski is the fashion icon of the production, she also performs fabulously. Her sultry alto voice is a perfect match for the infamous sea hag. Her eel sidekicks, Flotsam (Thomas Doelger) and Jetsam (AJ Lockhart) are both standouts in physical interaction and voice. The pair work together as if they are part of the same organism, making their creepy eel vibe all the more apparent and entrancing.
In the human world we meet the dashing, free-spirited Prince Eric (Josh Strickland). Strickland captures the essence of wanderlust in his performance of the Prince. Love can be difficult to play on stage. Often it feels forced and unnatural, but not in this case. Tucker and Strickland’s onstage chemistry feels real and genuine.
Prince Eric’s guardian Grimsby (Jim J. Bullock) provides a comedic contrast with Eric. Perfectly content with keeping two feet on land, Grimsby’s attempts to make Eric settle down become charming and humorous due to Bullock’s body language and physical choices. Another comedian in the human world is Chef Louis (John Massey). In the chaotic but iconic “Les Poissons” scene, Massey manages to make the audience laugh using a number of tactics. Everyone loves a goofy chef, and I promise, this is a scene you don’t want to miss!
Before I wrap up, I’d like to mention a couple other scenes and musical numbers that stand out. In “Part of Your World,” Tucker’s made-for-Broadway voice soars through the canyon. “Under the Sea,” sung by Ferguson and the ensemble, is absolutely mind blowing. The combination of bright and beautiful costumes, stunning chorography, a strong ensemble, and Ferguson’s crazy, amazing falsetto, made me feel like a little kid again. “Positoovity” is a highlight of the show, thanks to Jani Walsh-Weber’s tap choreography and O’Bannion’s upbeat vocal tone. The number that stands out the most to me is “If Only (Quartet).” Tucker, Strickland, Bayles, and Ferguson have an amazing dynamic and blend during this piece that both sent shivers down my spine and brought tears to my eyes. While the principals and ensemble members of Tuacahn’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid are absolutely phenomenal, another set of stars lie behind the scenes. I’ve already mentioned a few of them, but I want to congratulate technical director Wes Hamblin, lighting designer Nick Van Houten, artistic director Scott Anderson, director Jani Walsh-Weber, and all of the other designers and crew members who worked so hard on this show. Without you, none of this is possible. I mean, where else can you see a theatre production that includes actual fireworks?
Tuacahn Amphitheatre presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Book by Doug Wright, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, Music by Alan Menkin.
Tuacahn Amphitheatre, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738
July 4, 6, 8, 12, 23, 27, Aug 1, 5, 8, 2019, 8:45 PM, Aug 13, 16, 19, 21, 24, 29, 2019, 8:30 PM, Sept 2, 6, 10, 14, 16, 20, 26, 2019, 8:00 PM, Oct 1, 4, 10, 16, 19, 21, 25, 2019, 7:30 PM
Tickets $32.00-$99.00
Contact: (800) 746-9882 or (435) 652-3300
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Facebook Event
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