The Little Mermaid JR

The Little Mermaid is the story of a young rebellious mermaid Ariel who is fascinated by the human world and what life would be like on land. On one of her visits to the surface she helps save Prince Eric and falls deeply in love. After a fight with her father King Triton, she is lured to the sea witch’s cave. Here she makes a dangerous deal with the witch her voice for 3 days as a human and a chance to get the prince to fall in love with her. But when plans go awry, King Triton must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his daughter. 

Stepping into the auditorium for The Little Mermaid Jr, it was immediately clear that this was going to be a colourful and engaging journey “under the sea.” The atmosphere was beautifully set with creative dressing of the auditorium, immersing the audience in an underwater world before the show started. The soundscape and clever use of gobos and projections helped transport us deep beneath the waves, creating a vibrant and dynamic environment for the young cast to explore.

Drama Geeks didn’t just have one cast for this show but four! Team Gadgets, Team Gizmos, Team Whosits and Team Whatsits. I had the privilege of watching Team Gizmo, who brilliantly told the story with lots of energy and passion. 

The show opened with a lovely ballet sequence that set the tone for a production full of warmth, energy, and heart. Eleanor Donkin as Ariel delivered beautifully strong vocals and really captured the character of this head strong mermaid with a deep fascination for the world above the sea. 

Charlotte Hall as Sebastian was great her accent was impressively consistent throughout both acting and song, adding authenticity and humour to her performance. Kara Laidlaw-Smyth as Flounder demonstrated great stage presence and excellent comic timing, quickly becoming a firm audience favourite.

Ursula who dominated the stage whenever she appeared was played by Jessica Anderson– powerful, commanding, and delightfully wicked. Her hench-eels, Flotsam, Gabrielle Crosby and Jetsam, Macie Sinclair, were a real highlight; their synchronised, sinuous movements were both beautiful and unsettling, perfectly capturing their eerie energy.

Nina Mort as Scuttle brought light relief at every opportunity – the comedy was well-paced, and the one-liners landed perfectly, raising plenty of smiles. Isla Rothery as prince Eric was a great addition to the cast as was the chorus of mermaids and Gull’s. I believe nearly most if not all the cast had their moment to shine singing small solos or in small groups. 

I must mention Ariel’s transformation scene, as this was handled with real theatrical flair; the swift changes were impressively well-concealed, with clever use of dance, flowing materials, and lighting effects to create a truly magical moment.

Throughout the performance, the ensemble worked with enthusiasm and joy – it was evident that every cast member was fully committed and having the best time. The passion from both performers and production team shone through every scene, making The Little Mermaid Jr a heart-warming and visually captivating production.

Drama Geeks should be very proud of this enchanting and spirited show – a wonderful evening of youth theatre, full of imagination, teamwork, and sheer joy.

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