Tune Thursday: Fresh faces add new fun to Broadway’s “The Little Mermaid”

Jim Hill

15 years ago

It’s summer in NYC. The streets of flooded with tourists,
looking for something new to sea … er … see on Broadway.

Well, over at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, a trio of new faces
have just come aboard at “The Little Mermaid.” Which makes this Disney
Theatrical Production definitely worth another look-sea … er … see.

Truth be told, the show’s new Ariel — Chelsea Morgan Stock –
isn’t exactly a new face. She’s been with the Broadway production of Disney’s “The
Little Mermaid” since the very beginning. Ms. Stock originated the role of Andrina (i.e. one of King Triton’s
seven daughters) as well as understudying Sierra Boggess in the title role. But
now that Ms. Boggess has swum off to London (So that Sierra can then reportedly play
Christine in that “Phantom of the Opera” sequel that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber is
prepping), Chelsea has slipped into Ariel’s fins full-time.

As for “The Little Mermaid” ‘s new Ursula … Well, Faith
Prince ain’t exactly a new face either. This Tony Award-winner is one of the
real masters of musical comedy. Which is why the Broadway community was
thrilled when Disney Theatrical asked Ms. Prince to come perform Howard Ashman,
Alan Menken & Glen Slater’s memorable songs.

When I dropped by the Lunt-Fontanne earlier this year to check
Faith’s Ursula, Ms. Prince did not disappoint. Mind you, her sea witch is
decidedly different than Sherie Rene Scott’s (i.e. the actress who originated
this role for the stage musical). Sherie
always played Ursula as if she were some sort of undersea screen siren. A Norma
Desmond of the deep, if you will.

Whereas Ms. Prince … Well, while still nailing all of her
songs and landing all of her laugh lines, Faith has done something bold. She grounded this fantasy character in
reality. Which is why there’s now this little weird moment toward the end of “The
Little Mermaid.” Where Ariel is getting ready to dispatch Ursula with King
Triton’s trident and the sea witch is begging for her life … Because Faith
Prince is such a good actress, for the first time ever, you sort of feel sorry
for Ursula.

Which I’m not sure is exactly what “The Little Mermaid” ‘s
creators were going for. I know for a fact that that’s not how this moment in
the show originally played when Sherie Rene Scott was Ursula. But that’s one of
the real joys of live theater, I guess. That you can drop a different actor into
a particular role and suddenly scenes in a show start playing very differently.

Which is why it’s going to be really interesting to see how
the Broadway version of “The Little Mermaid” plays now through August 30^th.
What with Drew Seeley replacing Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, it’s going to be
intriguing to see what sort of impact the star of “Another Cinderella Story”
(Which – FYI – has its Disney Channel premiere on July 11^th) has on
the box office. Whether ticket sales will surge once tween girls learn that the
guy who set their hearts aflutter when he appeared in those “High School Musical, The Concert – Extreme Access Pass” arena shows is now live on stage at the Lunt-Fontanne.

As to what the folks at Disney Theatrical have planned for “The
Little Mermaid” after Seeley leaves the show later this summer, what they’ll do
next in order to keep people excited about this Broadway musical, who can say? All I know is – when it comes to fish – it’s
always best when they’re fresh. So I’d imagine that we’ll continue to sea … er … see fresh talent coming on
board at “The Little Mermaid.”

(Note to self: Enough with the nautical puns, already.)

This long-running musical continues at the Lunt-Fontanne
Theater (205 West 46^th Street). For further information of ticket
prices & performance times, please click on this link.