Calling all Disney fans, this show actually might not be the show for you. Ursula the sea witch is on a comeback tour to clear up some misconceptions, and accurately retell the story of “The Little Mermaid” by shining a modern light on some troubling aspects of the film.
This opera is unlike anything you may have seen before. It has comedy, vulgarity and top-quality, original musical numbers. The purpose is to show Disney fans that some of their work needs to get with the times in a humorous way. Fans of “The Little Mermaid”, beware, the film is about to be interpreted in a whole new way.
The production value of the show is excellent, with top quality props, costumes, sound, lighting and a good set. It brings large-scale theatrics to the festival, and a show that possibly cannot be matched in terms of grandeur and flare. The acting style is quite pantomime-like, very animated and contorted, perhaps also slightly exaggerated, but that is in keeping with the style of the classic Disney films. The quality of the vocals is some of the best you could hope to find at the festival, and with the comedic style of many of the musical numbers, you can’t help but wonder how they can keep their serious demeanour.
“Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch” is an incredibly well-crafted show that everyone will be able to enjoy, provided they are fourteen and above, due to some language you never would have believed could come out the mouth of your beloved Disney heroes and villains. Nonetheless the show is funny, clever and performed to the highest of standards, and it’s not at the festival for long, so if you want to listen to Ariel sing about what she’s really looking for on the surface, you need to get moving.
Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, 17:55, Underbelly, August 19-28
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/unfortunate-the-untold-story-of-ursula-the-sea-witch
