By Bridges Sayers
Herriman Arts Council is currently performing Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the W & M Butterfield Park Rosecrest Pavilion in Herriman, Utah. This brilliant musical takes the best parts of the Disney movie, which follows the tale of a young mermaid, Ariel, who falls in love with a human, Prince Eric. With even more beautiful songs, loveable characters, and a heightened sense of authenticity, Disney’s The Little Mermaid has captivated audiences across the world. Naturally, this show is a huge undertaking for any company, and Herriman Arts Council tackled the challenge brilliantly.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is perfect for an outdoor venue, and therefore is ideally suited for the chosen stage. I have to give a special thank you to the staff of Herriman Arts Council for their amazing hospitality and kindness. My boyfriend, Aaron, and I had both had long days, and coming to this show served as a truly lovely respite. From our very first arrival, we were met with enthusiasm and graciousness. Every person we spoke to was so kind and truly served as a wonderful ambassador for the arts in Utah. Adding in easy parking was just the cherry on top. Even before the show began, I knew I would enjoy the evening. The show itself, though, left both Ariel and myself speechless.
Ariel (Emily Wells) is a dream come true for the role. She brings such vivacity and authenticity to a role that can often come across as shallow. As the hero of the story, I found myself rooting for her the entire time. Her vocals are perfect for the role, capturing both the innocence and energy of Ariel perfectly. I particularly enjoyed her physicality and facial expressions—they are fun and quirky, and often made me laugh out loud. Emily is the total package as Ariel, and her trusty sidekick Flounder (Bryton Myler) is equally wonderful. Don’t let his age fool you, Bryton is a force to be reckoned with onstage. Aaron and I couldn’t stop gushing about how talented he is. He nails the difficult vocals of “She’s in Love” and incorporats in some fun, incredible tricks of his own. Flounder can sometimes be a forgettable role, but Bryton’s portrayal is a highlight of the show.
Naturally, a fan favorite of the show is Prince Eric (Adam Millington.) Adam beautifully portrays the role, and his vocals during “Her Voice” had me melting in my seat. He shows the conflict and difficulty faced by Prince Eric, something that is often glossed over in other performances. It truly enriches his character development. His relationship with Grimsby (Sean Hyte) is just adorable. You can definitely see the two of them together as the willful boy and the stubborn old man, yet they also capture the love and companionship that exists as the foundation of their relationship. I also thought Adam interacts well with the sailors, who are incredibly fun and talented. It is wonderful to see the Pilot (Geoff Beckstrand) in “Fathom’s Below” as he weaves his story about mermaids, and to see the clearly captivated and entranced crew of the ship. This is a very memorable beginning to the show. Of course, my favorite on-stage relationship has to be Ariel and Eric together. The two of them, particularly during “One Step Closer” are sheer magic. I was sucked right in with a big dopey grin on my face. Any time they were together, I just felt so happy. It was a brilliant casting decision by director Stephen Kerr.
Another remarkable performance is Triton (Andy Browning.) He captures the stubbornness of King Triton wonderfully, and I found myself invested in his relationship with his daughters. I particularly enjoyed his softer moments—those can be much harder for the role. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried during his beautiful rendition of “If Only-Triton’s Lament” and the stunning quartet “If Only.”
Speaking of “If Only”, we can’t forget the spectacular Sebastian (Barton Sloan.) His pearly whites every time he smiles are the only evidence that he is a dentist. Other than that, he completely pulled me into the underwater realm and convinced me of his status as a crustacean. I was mere seconds from leaping onstage and dancing with the cast during “Under the Sea”—and I definitely giggled a healthy amount, especially during a surprise moment (I won’t ruin the secret, but for several minutes, I definitely acted like a two-year-old.) Barton’s vocals are so lovely and smooth. I particularly enjoyed how he captures and guides the energy of the ensemble. His relationship with Ariel is also touching, and reminded me of what true friendship should be like.
The Mersisters’ performance is also gorgeous. I truly enjoyed “Daughters of Triton,” but the real show stopper is “She’s in Love.” The song is so much fun—there’s no other way to describe it. Special shout-outs to Aquata (Neena Warburton), Adella (Tianna Maxwell), and Allana (April Kerr) for their particularly amazing characterizations. While all the Mersisters were brilliant, these three were over-the-top spectacular. My eyes were drawn straight to them any time they were onstage.
Naturally, the villain of the show should be someone I hate. However, I found it utterly impossible to hate Ursula (Camille Cook), simply because of how brilliant she is. Her vocals, her physicality, her acting, her storytelling. I could go on and on about how amazing she is. Aaron and I were both gobsmacked when she first opened her mouth to sing—she has that rich, jazzy sound that the part demands. Plus, she oozes confidence in a way that makes her both slimy and stellar. Her performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” had me on the edge of my seat. Her sidekicks, Flotsam (Brooklyn Allison) and Jetsam (Tevan McPeak) are so creepy and smooth. Their performance of “Sweet Child” sent shivers down my spine, and I loved their interactions with both each other and Ursula. The trio is a match made in villain heaven.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the brilliant Scuttle (Tanner Sumens) as well. He was a personal favorite of both Aaron and I, and brought such joy to the stage during “Positoovity.” He was a delight to watch. We also loved the performance of Chef Louis (Dustin Stout), which is filled with humor and creativity.
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Though they are not on the stage, clear stars of the show are the orchestra members. Conducted by Meagan Thorup, the live music is a perfect addition to the show. The orchestra is right on par every single time, and never misses a beat. They deserved the hearty applause they received at the end of the show.
Additionally, the production staff is brilliant. I was obsessed with the work of costume designer Emily Berbert. Every single piece fits the person perfectly, and also fits the role beautifully. I would say which costumes I loved most, but I honestly can’t pick favorites because they are all so good. I think the pictures above speak for themselves. Another production staff standout is set construction manager Bill Black. The set is truly beautiful, and is also surprisingly complex. The multitude of moving parts is something rarely seen in a community theater, and I highly commend him for his brilliant work. Choreographer Julie Balazs worked wonders with both the small, intimate numbers and the large, energetic songs. I loved her versatility, and the show feels cohesive and enjoyable. I particularly loved the choreography during “Positoovity” and “Positaggity.” Vocal Director Amara Blackburn also did beautifully. The vocals are so incredible, and I was genuinely left speechless at points due to the loveliness of it all. Naturally, director Stephen Kerr is to be highly commended. Never once did the show hit a lull. The pacing is perfect, the decisions with blocking, and casting, and those special little moments are just stellar. Huge kudos to him for tackling an enormous show with such poise and talent.
I am excited to say that Aaron and I will be seeing the show again on Saturday, but this time we will be bringing a few more people with us. That’s how good it is. The ticket price is a steal for all the talent that you’ll get to see, not to mention the sheer enjoyment of the show. I would recommend bringing a seat cushion if you have one, because the seats did get a little bit uncomfortable by the end of the show. I would also recommend coming prepared with some money for their concessions, because the ice cold water and the cool candy bars were a total hit—and also a great price. They also have some adorable Little Mermaid necklaces and jewelry for sale for only $5. Also, bring your camera so you can enjoy the photo opportunity with cast members after the show—I know my boyfriend’s little sister will be dying to take some pictures with Ariel (and so will I!) Finally, arrive early. There’s fun music to listen to before the show begins, and it’s worth it to get a seat close to the front. Luckily, we lived up to the name of Front Row Reviewers Utah, and were seated in the front row. We’ll definitely be there early on Saturday to get those close up seats again.
I absolutely recommend this show to anyone, young or old, big or small, and anywhere in-between. If you are looking for a night that is pure magic and fun, this is the show for you. As Sebastian says, “Darling it’s better, down where it’s wetter.” If you won’t take it from him—take it from me. “Under the sea” in Herriman is where you want to be.
Herriman Arts Council presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid by Alan Menken
W & M Butterfield Park Rosecrest Pavilion, 6212 Butterfield Park Way, Herriman, UT 84096
Be sure to catch their remaining performances on July 11, 13-15, 17-18, 20-22. 8:00 PM
Tickets: $9.00
Contact: 801-446-5323
Herriman Arts Council Facebook Page
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Council Facebook Event
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