The Becker Middle School spring musical tradition is alive and well again this year with the great success of The Little Mermaid Jr.®, which treated show-goers to a fast-paced rendition of a slightly-shortened version of the popular musical that was designed specifically for middle-school aged actors.
Veteran director Greg Lynch kept the show moving at a crackling pace, while set designer Rich Kimmerle again served up a host of technical delights, including detailed sailing ships, vibrant undersea grottos and flying fish that did just that, flying about the auditorium over the heads of the audience in eerie silence, propelled through the air by a wave of their remote-controlled tails.
The principals played their roles with enthusiasm, staying in character throughout the production and making each scene fun to watch. The many chorus and group roles were also enjoyable, with star turns from the wildly-costumed “gull chorus” and the sinister “tentacles,” as well as the chaos that was the chefs and their magical “headless” fish.
The production mirrors the “big stage” version, with young mermaid Ariel longing for her handsome Prince Eric, though her father, King Triton, forbids her to near the dangerous “surface” world, she does, after making a dangerous bargain with Ursula, the Sea Witch. She loses her voice, and almost her freedom, but good conquers evil, and they live happily ever after.
The score was familiar as well, with popular songs like Kiss the Girl and Under the Sea.
