“THE LITTLE MERMAID,” through Aug. 1, Hale Centre Theatre, 3333 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City (801-984-9000 or hct.org)
WEST VALLEY CITY — “Poor unfortunate soul” is an appropriate nickname for anyone who passes up the opportunity to see Hale Centre Theatre's production of the Disney musical “The Little Mermaid,” which runs through Aug. 1.
With more than 10 new songs, stunning choreography, magical design elements and outstanding performances, HCT's exploration of the well-loved story goes far beyond the depths of its film counterpart.
Leading one of the show's two casts is Bre Welch as Ariel. She's a veteran of the role, having portrayed the character at Walt Disney World, and she gives a performance that's poignant and polished. Ariel's voice is a critical plot element, and Welch's is wondrous with a distinctly musical ring to it even when she's speaking.
Jon Rose as Prince Eric fills his role handsomely in more ways than one. He's thoughtful, kind, sincere and steady — traits especially showcased during the song "One Step Closer," in which Eric teaches Ariel not only how to dance but also how dancing can allow her to speak her mind without using the voice she's bartered away — giving an ironic and unexpected dash of truth to the sea witch Ursula's admonition: "Don't underestimate the importance of body language!"
Ursula herself, as embodied by Camille Van Wagoner, is darkly delightful and drips with dry humor. Her role is also greatly expanded thanks to the song "Daddy's Little Angel," in which she shares the reasons — both funny and a little heartbreaking — for her grudge against the merfolk.
A fun surprise is the design and execution of the eels Flotsam and Jetsam, played by Jeremy David Egan and Matthew Clark Richards, respectively. As Ursula's henchmen, they're slick as an oil spill. Their eerie number, "Sweet Child," is made particularly creepy yet mesmerizing thanks to their distinctive costuming and in-line skating.
There are no weak links in the aquatic food chain of this cast, but other highlights include Thomas Wood as Flounder, Conlon Bonner as Sebastian and Trevor Dean as Scuttle.
Wood is going into seventh grade and has impressive stage presence for his age as he navigates his character's floundering crush on Ariel and adds his exasperated disappointment to the mersisters' gossipy tune "She's in Love."
Bonner's portrayal is far from the rigid-but-sympathetic crab audiences may expect — his vibrant Sebastian is instead a true friend who brings a heavy dose of fun and heart to his scenes.
And apart from drawing big laughs, Dean demonstrates as much command over his voice as Welch does hers, but for the opposite effect — to become spectacularly squawky.
But just as impressive as the talent onstage is the talent that has gone into setting the stage. Those on the production team have outdone themselves.
Even before the show begins, audiences are transported to the seaside with blue-green wavering lights and the sound of the surf. Glass orbs in fishing nets hang from the catwalk and are illuminated with bright colors. The dramatic, colorful lighting continues with great variation throughout the production and adds magic to every scene, particularly when combined with other elements — the stage that rises, falls and rotates in sections; the ingenious use of a fog machine; gorgeous set pieces and props; and a smorgasbord of sounds.
The costumes, hair and makeup are terrific as they work together to help create the characters. Ariel's wigs, Flounder's face and basically every piece of fabric — too many colors and textures to count — on every character to set foot or fin onstage are marvelous.
The production itself is generally watertight, but audiences should be aware that because the theater is in the round, not everyone has an equal view of every scene. This is particularly true during "Part of Your World," in which Ariel's treasure trove is left by the east stage door and she sits with her back to that section of the audience for much of the song. However, the distribution of scenery and actors is kept fairly balanced throughout the rest of the show.
Though it's not really a drawback, an additional problem audiences may face is in deciding where to focus their attention. For example, Eric may only have eyes for Ariel in "Kiss the Girl," but as the couple is floating in the blue lagoon, it's difficult to know where to look because so many incredible things are happening — watch for the aerial dancers.
Regardless of the affection one may have for the animated Disney movie, HCT's production of "The Little Mermaid" is a treasure trove that just about blows it out of the water.
Email: rbrutsch@deseretnews.com