Viva’s production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ was a wonderful treat.
Directors Ben Clark and Lee Sherwood, musical director Gemma Perry, choreographer Louise Plummer and the team are to be congratulated for not only putting on a very good show, but for involving almost 70 children in the cast, over half of whom were new to Viva.
What a challenge! The challenge was indeed well met and the calypso numbers that filled the stage and aisle with so many of the performers were among the best.
Macey Bennett was the beautiful mermaid Ariel always drawn to things above the sea and eventually marrying her human prince. Alfie Peckham (Prince Eric) was indeed a handsome prince who could act and sing with the best of them. One of the most charismatic characters was Flounder, played by Sienna Warder, who really shone with the Mersisters especially in ‘She’s in Love’. The Mersisters were wonderful characters too, played by Zara Minns, Izzy Avey-Walters, Summer Dowling, Lola MacDonald, Lily McMahon and Abby Cornwell.
Ursula, the bad witch, was magnificently portrayed by Lizi Nicholson who has a voice like Shirley Bassey’s: resonant and full of emotion - just right for the part.
The lovely reactions Sebastian (Kiera O’Reilly) had to the many dilemmas she met enlivened the show delightfully and she provided a fitting contrast to the older and wiser King Triton (Isaac Stares).
Other wonderful characters included knife-wielding Chef Louis (Katie Kirkpatrick), Sea Horse (Lauren Grosvenor), a grim Grimsby (Daniel Allgood), the beautiful Carlotta (Phyllida Hickish), the sinister workers for the witch Flotsam (Megan Godfrey) and Jetsam (Caitlin Eaton), the ‘expert’ on things human: Scuttle (Alex Burns) and the unmistakeable squawking Gulls (Holly Pryke, Siobhan Fordham and Tabby Kirk).
As the full ensemble gathered for their final bow the enthusiastic audience let it known that this was indeed a wonderful show.
Viva’s next production will be ‘Made In Dagenham’ from July 27 to 30. To book, visit www.wegottickets.com
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