The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid pantomime is a lively take on the Disney classic.

Clive Dancey did a good job of bringing this pantomime to life in Bentley House, which can be a challenging space but, when used correctly, becomes a magnificent venue for theatre.

Emma Gilby worked hard to include everyone in the choreography. This is always tricky when you have a cast with varying levels of ability.

Keith Willis, as always, produced a good sound. It was clear he had worked closely with the cast on their vocals, and having the small band downstairs made all the difference to the balance.

Saphie Meischke played Ariel. She had a lovely voice and a strong presence on stage as principal girl. Her reveal dress was cleverly designed and very effective.

Prince Finn was performed by Emily Power. She was a strong principal boy with a good voice, and she carried herself with the poise expected of royalty.

The comedy characters Persil and Thermidor were played by Darrell Williams and Courtney Cole. Darrell is an excellent dame skilled at adapting, improvising, and working the audience, especially the poor gentleman in the front row. His costume was colourful and effective, though he would have benefited from one or two additional changes. Courtney played the audience friend, and her costume was stunning, perfectly capturing the lobster she portrayed. At times she needed to slow down her dialogue, but she certainly knew how to deliver a punchline.

The villain, Octavia, was played by Sami Underwood. She made an outstanding baddie and fully deserved all the boos and applause. She also had a fabulous voice. Her henchmen, Cockles and Mussels, were played by Louise Davey and Krystel Howard.

Queen Neptune and Admiral C. Weed were played by Karen Dean-Arshadi and Barny Shergold. Karen gave the Queen the sense of authority essential for the role.

Gemma Sloan played the Mother of Pearl, ensuring her diction was clear and easy to understand. Leia Chappell played Pearl, bringing a different energy whenever she came on stage. She was full of life and gave Pearl a wonderful character. She is certainly a performer to watch in the future.

A set in Bentley House needs to be creative, and I really liked this one it was clever and effective. The projections worked well, the different levels were used smartly, and there was still enough room for choreography in front.

Thank you to HD&OS for their hospitality.

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