Let me start off today’s column by saying that I sort-of, kind-of got into this whole writing-about-the-Walt-Disney-Company-for-the-Web thing thanks to David Mumford.
To explain: I have always been a hardcore Disney geek. But it wasn’t until I saw David at an early N.F.F.C. convention — sharing the stage with his frequent partner-in-crime, Bruce Gordon, at one of their infamous “Bruce & Dave” shows — that I saw how the pros did it. That when you skillfully mixed Disney theme park history with a healthy dollop of backstage gossip and humor … Well, you often got a very entertaining & informative show.
And ever since then … I have been sort-of, kind-of following in David & Bruce’s footsteps. Trying to share seldom-told stories and/or offer up insights about the Walt Disney Company that (I hope) JHM readers find entertaining & informative.
Anyway … Given the great debt that I owe the late Mr. Mumford, I’m actually very pleased that the story that I’m about to share with you folks comes from another member of the Mumford clan: David’s brother, John. Who — this past Thursday night — attended the very first public performance of Disney Theatrical‘s newest production, “The Little Mermaid.”
Photo by John Mumford
When he and I spoke on the phone this past Friday night, John revealed that this show’s pre-Broadway engagement at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts didn’t exactly begin smoothly. As he walked up to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House this past Thursday night 40 minutes prior to curtain, Mumford noticed that all of the fire alarms at the theater were going off. More to the point, that none of the “Mermaid” ticket holders were being allowed to go upstairs until the Opera House staff could figure out why exactly the fire alarms had gone off.
Once it was determined that the theater’s fire detection system had been set off by accident, the alarms were quickly silenced and the audience was then allowed to use the Opera House’s elevators. Which is how John was finally able to reach his seat in the balcony.
However, as a direct result of this technical glitch, the first public performance of Disney’s new stage version of “The Little Mermaid” didn’t get underway on time. At around 8:10 p.m., Thomas Schumacher (i.e. President of Disney Theatrical) stepped out in front of the curtain and — after welcoming everyone to that night’s performance — then warned all those in the auditorium that they should expect some technical difficulties that evening. That (to put it bluntly) “The Little Mermaid” had yet to make it through an entire performance without some set piece or a prop malfunctioning. Schumacher then asked in advance for the audience’s patience & understanding. He then disappeared behind the curtaind and “Mermaid” ‘s first public performance officially got underway.
Photo by John Mumford
As it turns out, Thomas didn’t actually have to ask for the audience’s indulgence. For last Thursday night — for the first time, evidently — all of the “Little Mermaid” ‘s elaborate set pieces (Take — for example — the full-sized version of Prince Eric’s royal galleon. Which really wowed the audience as it was lowered out of the flies with a full crew on board) worked flawlessly.
As for the show itself, John found the stage version of “The Little Mermaid” to already be a pretty entertaining evening of theater. Sure, there are some areas in the show that obviously already need a little fixing (EX: “Under the Sea.” While this musical number was obviously one of the high points of the 1989 animated film, Mumford thought that the stage version of this song fell somewhat flat). But isn’t that why Disney Theatrical took this show out-of-town in the first place? So that they’d then have the chance to restage various numbers once they heard the audience’s initial reaction to the original staging?
As for the 11 new songs that Academy Award winner Alan Menken & Glenn Slater wrote for “The Little Mermaid” … Well, according to John, there’s at least one hit in the pile. Last Thursday night, the audience reportedly went nuts when they heard “She’s in Love.” Which is this doo-wop number that Flounder and Ariel’s six sisters perform in the first act.
Photo by John Mumford
Mumford also liked “Positoovity.” Which is another brand-new Menken / Slater song that’s used to open the second act. In this broadly comic sequence, Scuttle and his seagull buddies teach the recently detailed Ariel how to use her new human legs. The show’s creative team use this number as an excuse to show off Eddie Korbich’s tap-dancing ability.
Beyond that, John stressed that “The Little Mermaid” may be the first Disney Theatrical production with real Daddy appeal. Given that all of the mer-women in the chorus have to wear bikini tops and really have to shake their heinies in order to get those artificial mermaid tails to move.
Speaking of moving … Mumford was also surprised at how quickly this new show zipped along. Even with a 10 minute delay due to those malfunctioning fire alarms as well as a 15 minute intermission, the stage version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was over by 10:30 p.m.
Mind you, John had lots of other tidbits to share about this new Disney Theatrical production … But given that it’s not quite kosher to go into great detail about a show that’s still in the middle of its out-of-town try-out (Why For? Because stories like that don’t really give a new theatrical production’s creative team the time & space that they need to make all of the necessary changes to their show), I think that I’ll sit on that info for a wee bit longer.
Beyond that … Well, as you might expect at a Disney Theatrical production, even though the show itself may not be ready for Broadway, the “Little Mermaid” souvenirs were. Mumford reported that the Mouse was selling t-shirts, key chains, pins, bracelets and baseball caps that were emblazoned with the “TLM” logo. They were even selling window card version of the show’s poster for its pre-Broadway engagement. Which featured this musical’s advertising tagline: “The hardest part of falling in love is taking the first step.”
Photo by John Mumford
Well, based on what John has told me about the stage version of “The Little Mermaid,” this new Disney Theatrical production really had no trouble getting up on its feet this past Thursday night. And while this new musical may have wobbled in spots … Well, that’s why the show’s creative team took “TLM” to Denver. So that they could then identify this production’s weaknesses and then work to correct.
And with its first public performance now under its belt, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” has taken its first step toward Broadway. Will this show be greeted with enthusiasm when it finally officially open in NYC on December 6th? A lot of that depends on what happens at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House between now and September 9th. As well as what happens to this show once “Mermaid” begins in-town previews at the Lunt-Fontanne on November 3rd.
Anyway … That’s a quick look Disney Theatrical’s latest production. Special thanks to John Mumford for sharing his observations of the first public performance of the new stage version of “The Little Mermaid.”
Your thoughts?