The Little Mermaid on Broadway

[DisneyJedi]

Well, either way, I still don't think the costume looks like something to write home about.

[SpringHeelJack]

Perhaps this and the Broadway production had a friendly rivalry going to see who can make their show the most visually underwhelming.

[supertalies]

Well, actually, there was once another mermaid musical here in the Netherlands and the mermaid costume in that one was actually quite similair to this one.

It actually looked good in that production, and in the Disney production the mermaids will actually move their tails. So it will probably look better on stage.

Here's a clip from that other production:

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[DisneyJedi]

Honestly, I kind of wonder how the whole swimming via wires will work if a lot of the characters need them. That's kind of what made the merblades unique, the fact that they made it seem like the fishfolk were floating.

[tsom]

So let me get this straight: you guys don't already like the costumes from only seeing literally a 3 second clip?

[Disney Duster]

I am going to wait to see the costumes in full because the clip didn't give the best idea - but going off all we have seen, I agree, great wig, that is actually the perfect sun and fire hair color for Ariel that still makes her look like a typical classical beautiful mermaid of Anderson's tale, but the tail...oh goodness, please please let that look better. And how can they keep her iconic hair but not her iconic purple shells. I know they want to be creative but you still gotta keep The Little Mermaid...The Little Mermaid.

[SpringHeelJack]

So let me get this straight: you guys don't already like the costumes from only seeing literally a 3 second clip?

THAT'S HOW WE DO, BOYEEE

[Elladorine]

THAT'S HOW WE DO, BOYEEE

Oh my.

[tsom]

So let me get this straight: you guys don't already like the costumes from only seeing literally a 3 second clip?

THAT'S HOW WE DO, BOYEEE

LOL! I know, I know. That's how UD rolls.

[tsom]

Some new images:

[supertalies]

It looks like Ariel's grotto will be changed to a garden, like it was in the original fairy tale.

Also, the statue obviously isn't meant to look like Eric, so my guess is they also changed the storyline.

[supertalies]

Sorry for the double post, but the new commercial was just released!

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I see a lot of thing I like, but also some things I really don't like.

For example, what is wrong with Ariel's hair when she's swimming? I guess they wanted her hair to move, like in the movie, but now she just looks like Frankenstein's bride! I like the idea, but not how they did it. Also, is the fabric hanging from her wrists supposed to be waves or something like that? The clip showing Ursula was too quick, but I guess they want her to look more like in the movie?

However, the costumes for the human Ariel looks really pretty... Also, I do like her wig. It somehow fits her.

[Disney Duster]

I...loved it. I love it. I mean, I can't give to conclusive a say, but...wow...that's beautiful.

The statue actually looks so much like an illustration I've seen for the original story. It actually is probably still Eric, it's just that they made him look like a Greek figure/god, something they often did when making pictures or statues of people, especially royalty. That's what I think, I could be wrong. I do have a problem with it being so much huger than Ariel, that makes little sense to me and she can't be as romantic with it, but maybe it works in the show.

I actually really like Ariel's hair flowing underwater like that. Okay, maybe they could make the flow more behind her instead of so straight up, would that make you feel better? But I actually really love it. I don't think it would make sense for the frabric hanging from her arms to be waves. I guess they could be, but the waves are kind of already in the background. I feel like it's just extensions of her fish half. If I was designing it that's what I'd make it, so smaller and "fishier" than what you see but still that kind of thing. OH WAIT I can see that the fabric is the same as her flipper fins, or even supposed to be her flipper fins just going all the way out to her wrists. Interesting. But it's a little too big still to me and not finny enough. But they did seem to add the iconic purple shells...or something, to her costume!

Ursula's costume...man it looks like a man wearing that. I like it except for the neckline of her dress. It should be better. The sleeves should be more off her shoulders or something. And of course I think it should be darker, closer to black, but oh well. And her hair could be longer, flowing in the water and prettier like Ariel's, yea yea, she's not supposed to be pretty as Ariel but still Ursula wanted to look good lol and longer hair flowing up top would balance out her huge flowing tentacles below.

And yes, that costume of hers is gorgeous, and the color perfect for her red hair. I guess they're making it the 18th century this time.

[supertalies]

Well, in the original story the mermaid had a garden with red flowers and a marble statue of a human man.

And they said in some interviews that they wanted to incorporate some elements from the original story in the musical, so my guess is the statue isn't supposed to be Eric, but just a statue of a man, like in the original story.

And I believe you're right, the fabrics hanging from her wrists probably are supposed to be her flipper fins. If they are, I would actually like that. I do agree, however, that they should be smaller. Still not a fan of the 'swimming' wig, however. It would, indeed, look better if it were flowing behind her.

Also, I remember reading somewhere the costume we saw in that other clip wasn't the final one. So I guess they changed it after shooting that clip.

[Disney Duster]

I must've read the story way too long ago because I forgot the statue wasn't from the prince. If they did change the story from the film, then I wonder how...I think the statue being Eric is such a powerful story point of the original I can't see it being just a statue being a better change.

For the heck of it I altered a cap to show how I think Ursula's neckline should be more like:

[DisneyJedi]

This is starting to look more and more interesting. The underwater hair idea, however, I am not a fan of. The concept is good, but the execution for it isn't so great. :\

[tsom]

In the original story, the statue in the mermaid's garden is said to resemble the prince she saves.

[Prince Edward]

Disney should take The Little Mermaid to West End, London! And release a West End soundtrack:)

[candydog]

It's hard to tell from the short clip and the few pics but overall I'm liking the new direction this production is taking. Ursula's costume looks to be far more octopus-like than the Broadway production, which I think is good. I love that Ariel now actually swims above the stage, and I assume the fabric attached to her arms is to give the "swimming" effect a more visual impact, like rippling water.

The hair thing looks weird I agree, it looks as though it's just being held up on a wire. Having it hanging loose may not add to the swimming effect but it would be less distracting.

The sets look a little sparse to me, I think I was expecting something more elaborate, but then I only saw two pictures so the rest of the show could involve a lot more set pieces. Maybe they're going for minimalism in the underwater scenes?

Anyway, it looks good overall. Can't wait to find out what the story changes are.

[Kyle]

First Conan now this? Was this really necessary Leno?