Disney's The Little Mermaid
at J.E.B. Stuart High School

Reviewed on April 13, 2018

Emily Lachow
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

With flaming red hair, a gleaming green tail, and a voice sweeping through white-crested waves, our favorite little mermaid plunged the audience into the sea before we could gasp for air. Is the seaweed indeed always greener down under the sea, or are the sandy shores of land worth sacrificing sea life, a tail, and a voice for? Riding the waves of this fin-tastic Disney classic, JEB Stuart hooked its audience with a whimsical, magical, and delightful rendition of The Little Mermaid.

This classic story, which follows mermaid Ariel's journey to find love with the human Prince Eric, first enchanted audiences as an 1837 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. Most people, however, are more familiar with the 1989 Disney film, which garnered two Academy Awards for Best Song and Best Score. It was adapted into a Broadway musical in 2007 with ten new songs.

The demure and graceful Mary Harrell was the epitome of a Disney princess; with bubbly physicality and vocals as pure as gently lapping waves, she truly shone as Ariel. Harrell's youthful exuberance added a refreshing burst of vibrancy to each of her scenes. As her human prince, Sam Wells was endearingly charming. The two together conveyed the tender love story between Ariel and Eric with laudable dedication.

Elijah Williams' performance as Sebastian was, in a word, crabulous. He anchored the ensemble of "Under the Sea" with a boat-load of energy and an impressive vocal range. In contrast with Williams' jolly demeanor, Andrea Pedemonte certainly delivered as the tale's Disney villain. Vicious, tenacious, and tentacular, Pedemonte stepped into Ursula's gills with an admirably fierce presence. Her performance was further enhanced by the eels slithering around her; Darien Roby and Deema Alharthi hissed and swirled cohesively, matching each other in intensity and vocal quality. Bringing some "positoovity" was Bella Lanoue-Chapman's hilariously gawky Scuttle. Lanoue-Chapman's every scene elicited bubbles of laughter from the audience, using a loud, proud, and squeaky voice to sound like a bumbling seagull.

The makeup crew of this production didn't need a trident to bring the magic of The Little Mermaid to life. Impressively well-executed contour, with an array of bright colors, marvelously created the scales and fins of sea creatures. The choreography, by Andrea Pedemonte, also breathed life into the show, with the smooth and jolting movements of "Fathoms Below" and charmingly awkward tap number "Positoovity."

JEB Stuart's The Little Mermaid submerged the audience in an ocean of love, magic, and fun. In an evening full of charm, these students proved that this timeless tale still has the power to unite sea and shore.

Alannah Rivera
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

At J.E.B. Stuart High School, they've got the spirit—and you've got to hear it! With their production of Disney's, The Little Mermaid, the energetic cast and stunning technical elements brought the audience under the sea for a splashing evening of fun.

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and 1989 animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid swam onto the Broadway stage in 2008 and received two Tony nominations, including Best Original Score. The beloved story follows Princess Ariel, a mermaid with aspirations of finding true love and joining the human world up above. She gives up her voice in exchange for legs to follow her dreams, and, in doing so, learns that love is felt instead of heard.

As the titular character, Mary Harrell perfectly personified the spunk and determined nature of Ariel, her youthful and enthusiastic energy shining as bright as her fiery red hair. Harrell's sweet soprano fit the character to a tee, particularly in her iconic song, "Part of Your World." However, the fact that Harrell so expertly embodied her character even without being able to speak for much of the show spoke to her incredible dexterity as an actress, and truly made her a standout of the evening.

Elijah Williams stole the show as Ariel's crustaceous companion, Sebastian. His animated facial expressions and comical line delivery constantly kept the audience laughing, while his powerful vocals—including an impeccable falsetto—brought the house down in numbers such as "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl." Alongside Williams was Naomi Bertha in the role of Flounder, whose adorably bubbly personality captured everyone's hearts. As the sultry sea witch, Ursula, Andrea Pedemonte wowed with her spot-on humor and knockout vocals in "Poor Unfortunate Soul." Also commendable was Sam Wells as Prince Eric, whose charm and smooth vocals made Ariel—and the audience—swoon.

The stellar work of the technical crews brought the vibrant aquatic world to life through the colorful lighting on the cyclorama, creative sets, and flashy costumes. Every crew worked together to create a unified look that was fresh and imaginative without straying too far from the classic feel of the show. The makeup team (Leilani Curran and Tess Wadson) created unique looks for every character, each of whom was distinctive and bold without being overtly fishy, lending a subtle sense of sophistication to the production.

The Little Mermaid is one of those nostalgic shows at brings joy to young and old alike, and the students of J.E.B. Stuart High School made the audience fall in love with this enchanted tale of triumph and true love all over again.

Jessie Yu
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

From the marvelous world above to mysterious fathoms below, the cast and crew of J.E.B. Stuart High School sent its audience on a journey to revisit the classic story of The Little Mermaid.

After the monumental success of the 1989 Disney film of the same name, Alan Menken got together with lyricist Glenn Slater and playwright Doug Wright to adapt The Little Mermaid to the stage. The musical opened on Broadway in 2008 and then was modified by Glenn Casale in 2012. Throughout the different versions of the show, the core of the original tale remained the same: following a young mermaid who longs to find a home on land.

Mary Harrell embodied the role of Princess Ariel with effervescent innocence in her actions and voice. Harrell perfectly captured the inquisitive spirit of the youngest daughter of King Triton, and had the audience rooting for her from the first clear, hopeful note. She and Sam Wells, who played Prince Eric, developed a sweet and genuine romance that shone in songs such as "One Step Closer" and "Kiss the Girl."

Ariel's platonic relationships in this musical are just as poignant, and both Jeremiah Lanoue-Chapman and Elijah Williams, in the roles of King Triton and Sebastian respectively, delivered with palpable concern as they watched over Ariel in their own ways until they had to let her go to Eric. The four of them came together in the musical highlight of the night, "If Only (Quartet)." It was beautifully delivered, with each performer capturing the desperate longing and heartbreak of the number.

Williams also shined In "Les Poissons" and "Les Poissons (Reprise)," where he and Jonah Garces-Foley, who played Chef Louis, had the audience rolling on the ocean floor as they acted out a hilariously hectic chase scene. Bella Lanou-Chapman as Scuttle was another comedic standout, flapping about the stage with endearingly misled enthusiasm. "Positoovity" was truly one of the most positive songs of the night, with a little tap choreography thrown in there to brighten the stage. A large ensemble rounded out the show, filling the auditorium with a celebration of aquatic life and music in "Under The Sea."

On the other side of the sea, Andrea Pedemonte connived and schemed as the sea witch, Ursula. Pedemonte stole the show with her powerful belts that were somehow both sinister and inspiring in numbers such as "Daddy's Little Angel" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Every flair and sneer allowed a relatively one-dimensional character to become nuanced and compelling. By her side, Flotsam and Jetsam, portrayed by Darien Roby and Deema Alharthi, completed the evil power trio in plot and song.

The technical elements of the show were quite impressive. A dynamic, multilevel set and artful uses of colored lighting on the cyclorama transformed the stage from an underwater wonderland to a pristine castle with minimal set changes. Additionally, many of the makeup choices were particularly creative. Sebastian was given sharp red contour to help him stand out as a crab, and Flounder's bright yellow and blue accents enhanced Naomi Bertha's youthful energy. The choice to use Heelys to create the illusion of being underwater was a nice touch that paid homage to the original Broadway show.

With humor, heart, and dazzling musical numbers, J.E.B. Stuart High School brought The Little Mermaid to life in a production that was swelling with charm and bubbling with fun.

Emma Shacochis
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

There are no troubles - life is the bubbles at J.E.B. Stuart High School's radiant production of "Disney's The Little Mermaid", where the cast's infectious joy will have you on sandbar nine!

Based on the 1989 Disney film, which was in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's classic fable, "Disney's The Little Mermaid" features book by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. After its Broadway debut in 2008, the show collected a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Show Album and two Tony nominations, and has prompted numerous regional and international productions.

The fairytale follows the young mermaid Ariel who, after falling in love with a prince who lives on land, deals away her voice for legs. Confusing human culture, a plotting sea witch, and a deadline of only three days to convince Prince Eric to fall in love with her, Ariel must let her heart decide which life she wishes to live - land or sea?

Mary Harrell brings Ariel to life with an abundance of spunk and innocence. With a luminous voice, Harrell manages to capture both heartfelt longing in "Part of Your World" and giddiness at new experience in "Beyond My Wildest Dreams." Even when performing in Ariel's voiceless state, Harrell's animated facial expressions and mannerisms add an extra dash of bubbliness to her already delightful performance. Her sweet chemistry with Prince Eric (Sam Wells, with earnest charm to spare) shines through especially in their adorably awkward first-date number "Kiss the Girl."

As Ariel adventures through life in the sea and on land, she has a high-spirited gang of animal friends to help her, as any good princess should. Flounder, played by Naomi Bertha, is an endearingly chipper guppy, while Bella Lanoue-Chapman's seagull Scuttle is a gloriously goofy proprietor of "positoovity." As crustacean conductor Sebastian, Elijah Williams - whether crooning in the iconic "Under the Sea," providing touching paternal counseling to Ariel, or hilariously giving chase on land while trying to avoid the lobster pot - never loses energy for a minute.

Scheming against Ariel is her estranged and evil aunt, the sea witch Ursula, played wonderfully by Andrea Pedemonte. Strutting across the stage and snarling one-liners, Pedemonte nails "Poor Unfortunate Souls" with a fabulous voice and commanding presence. Hissing along with Ursula's plans are the dynamic duo of Darien Roby and Deema Alharthi, who are pitch-perfect as the eerie electric eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, respectively.

The sprawling ensemble are entertaining in each of their roles, from frolicking fowl in "Positoovity," swaying sailors in "Fathoms Below," and mischievous mer-sisters in "Daughters of Triton." The entire company delivers not only with beautiful harmonies, but with their witty delivery, a boatload of nautical puns.

The incredibly creative and fun choreography (Andrea Pedemonte) is exceptional - from the sea creatures grooving in "Under the Sea"; the swoon-worthy waltz between Ariel and Eric in "One Step Closer"; and the doo-wop number "She's In Love," featuring synchronized shimmying from Ariel's six sisters. The cast executed every move swimmingly, with many impressively performing in roller-soled shoes.

With its charming cast and fantastic choreography, it's clear as H2O not a poor, unfortunate soul will be found in the audience of J.E.B. Stuart High School's magical production of "Disney's The Little Mermaid"!

Maggie Klein
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Young love, rebellious daughters, magic spells, and… dinglehoppers? It's the perfect recipe for a fin-tastic fairytale. "Life is better down where it's wetter," but don't take it from me; swim on down under the sea to find out for yourself in J.E.B. Stuart High School's bubbly rendition of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Based on the well-loved 1989 Disney film and the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the same name, The Little Mermaid was brought to the stage in 2008 with book by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. The classic story of a mermaid who trades her voice for legs to find love and happiness in the world beyond the ocean continues to win the hearts of the young and old alike.

As the titular mermaid, Mary Harrell did the iconic role justice. She delivered the consistently effervescent vocals that so define Princess Ariel while also creating a youthful, dynamic characterization of the headstrong girl. Even when she was voiceless, Harrell remained engaging and expressive as she danced, gestured, and reacted her way through the second act. Sam Wells was charming as her Prince Eric. He captured the sweet dynamic of the pair of "fish out of water" struggling to reconcile their desires with those of their parents.

Flounder (Naomi Bertha) and Sebastian (Elijah Williams) were audience favorites as Ariel's fishy (and crustaceous) friends. Bertha's commitment to the anxious little fish was evident as she flapped her fishy fins about and spoke in a voice perfectly befitting of the childlike character. Williams' grand humorous choices, including a falsetto in the energized "Under the Sea" and a hilarious chase scene in "Les Poissons" with comedic standout Chef Louis (Jonah Garces-Foley) made him a highlight of the night.

Andrea Pedemonte eclipsed expectations of a high school performance in the notorious role of Ursula. With big tentacles to fill, Pedemonte more than delivered the booming vocals, unbridled confidence, and commanding stage presence of the sassy sea witch. Slimy sidekicks Flotsam (Darien Roby) and Jetsam (Deema Alharthi) rounded out the villainous trio with unmatched energy, vocals, and unfailing eel physicality. Bella Lanoue-Chapman was yet another standout as the squawking seagull Scuttle as she led a cohort of tap-dancing birds through the fun and peppy "Positoovity."

Choreography (Andrea Pedemonte), costumes, and makeup (Leilani Curran and Tess Wadson) made big numbers like "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" vibrant celebrations. Attention to detail in makeup seamlessly aged Grimsby (Berkeley Wilkins) and transformed sea creatures with the use of colorful contour. In a nod to the original Broadway production, several cast members also wore Heelys; this gave Ariel a gliding grace with an edge of spunk as she wheeled her way through the water.

With their attention to detail and clear enthusiasm, J.E.B. Stuart High School made dinglehoppers out of forks in their magical production of The Little Mermaid. Their boisterous yet heartfelt take on a beloved classic is sure to leave you happy as a clam.

Diana Witt
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Under the sea, life on the ocean floor is exuberant - fish fins flutter, waves roll, and aquatic creatures jam out in a hot crustacean band. With genuinely witty characters and lively musical numbers, J.E.B. Stuart High School's playful and spirited production of Disney's The Little Mermaid left the audience "on sandbar nine."

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale and the Disney film of the same title, The Little Mermaid first premiered on Broadway in 2008. The production garnered Tony nominations for Best Original Score and Best Lighting Design. With a book by Doug Wright and music and lyrics by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater, the musical featured many of the songs and elements of the classic 1989 film.

Dreaming of what life is like on the shore, rebellious mermaid Ariel is fascinated by all things human. During a visit to the ocean surface, Ariel falls for a human, Prince Eric, when she rescues him in a storm. As she hopes of being with him on land, Ariel makes a risky bargain with the evil Ursula, exchanging her melodic voice for a pair of legs. With help from her fish friends, Ariel must find a way for Prince Eric to kiss in her in three days, or else Ursula owns her soul for eternity.

Mary Harrell gave a vibrant and heartfelt performance as the titular mermaid, Ariel. A true fish out of water, Harrell convincingly exuded an adorable cluelessness at the sight of unfamiliar human objects. Harrell counteracted her goofiness with raw emotional moments in climactic scenes. As the regal and charming Prince Eric, Sam Wells adopted a strong, masculine persona, while exhibiting care for Ariel.

As the malicious sea witch, Ursula, Andrea Pedemonte impressively demonstrated a balance between villainous and hilarious. While she frightened the audience with her evil cackle and devilish motives, she managed to evoke laughter with her impeccable comedic timing. Pedemonte also boasted a brilliant belt in her powerhouse number "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Elijah Williams portrayed Ariel's crustacean guardian, Sebastian. William's over-the-top personality infused scenes with a comedic flair, and he brought the house down in his vivacious number, "Under the Sea."

As the zany seagull Scuttle, Bella Lanoue-Chapman showcased bold physical comedy. Her boundless energy and animated facial expressions were evident in her toe-tapping song "Positoovity." Naomi Bertha played Ariel's loyal, yet timid sidekick, Flounder. Bertha embodied the youthful guppy with unwavering enthusiasm.

Bright set pieces and quirky costumes transformed the simple stage to the vivid underwater seascape. With an excellent use of color, the set glittered with brilliant blue waves and versatile periactoids. The lighting team also used a multicolor cyclorama to signify the change from land to sea. Student choreographer Andrea Pedemonte beautifully staged a variety of musical numbers, from the romantic ballroom duet "One Step Closer" to the upbeat pop group number "She's in Love."

"Tonight, let both our worlds celebrate as one," King Triton proclaims, beckoning the sea dwelling creatures to join in the jubilation of Ariel's marriage. Whether they call utensils forks or dinglehoppers, or whether they have gills or lungs, all the characters in J.E.B. Stuart High School's Disney's The Little Mermaid created an imaginative and whimsical production, inviting the audience to become "part of that world."

Howard Malc
Thomas Jefferson High School for Sci/Tech
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

I am not going to start this review in the traditional manner. I am not a fan of The Little Mermaid. The Disney story about a young mermaid who falls in love with a human from the surface against her father's wishes and makes a deal with a sea witch to be with him never really spoke to me. Going into this show, I anticipated two and a half hours of boredom; however,by the end of the opening song, I knew Stuart High School's production of The Little Mermaid would challenge my predictions.

Where the performance truly excelled was in its ensemble. "Fathoms Below," which introduces Prince Eric (Sam Wells) and his sea crew, was transformed from what would be a forgettable scene into an exciting introduction to what was in store for the rest of the show thanks to the lively sailor crew who really established the scene. Ariel (Mary Harrell), the mermaid daughter of Triton, watches Eric and is fascinated by a fork he throws overboard. Harrell does an excellent job of expressing her fascination and misunderstanding of human nature. She is assisted in her human discovery by a Seagull named Scuttle (Bella Lanoue-Chapman), who brought some comedic elements to the show. Lanoue-Chapman did a great job embodying the character of Scuttle, and her seagull ensemble was outstanding in the later song "Positoovity."

As a result of her curiosity, Ariel forgets about her musical performance with her sisters. Ariel's mer-sisters really shine in their opening song, "Daughters of Triton." They played off each other very well, especially when they were complaining about how Ariel was absent. To keep an eye on his daughter, King Triton (Jeremiah Lanoue-Chapman) assigns the crab Sebastian (Elijah Williams) to watch over her. Originally, Williams' choice of accent for Sebastian threw me off a bit. It was not what I was expecting, but it grew on me very quickly. Williams really showed his talent during the song "Under the Sea." He showed excitement, energy, and brought a new interpretation to the song I had never seen before.

After her father forbids Ariel from ever visiting the surface ever again, she finds herself in the lair of the sea witch Ursula (Andrea Pedemonte). Ursula offers Ariel legs, at the cost of her voice, and she must get a kiss from Prince Eric in three days time or her soul will belong to Ursula. Pedemonte displays the perfect balance of sass and evil to expertly portray a great villain, and she often stole the show when she was on stage. Ariel finds herself on land and quickly meets Eric, who provides her stay in his palace. While looking for Ariel, Sebastian has a run-in with the palace chef, Chef Louis (Jonah Garces-Foley). Garces-Foley might have been my favorite part of the show. He emphasized his characterization of Louis on his love of cooking in a way not often done. Louis' passions are often overlooked to make him a one-sided secondary villain who attacks Sebastian, but Garces-Foley's Louis really made me think.

All in all, Stuart High School's production of The Little Mermaid was fantastic. The ensembles were lively, the leads strong, and the pit orchestra played great as well. I went into the show pessimistic but found it a great way to spend my Friday night.