What I liked
They were able to emotionally move me through movement and expressions.
What I didn't like
Can’t think of anything I didn’t like
My overall impression
I want to preface this by saying I have neither read “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Anderson, nor seen the animated movie by Disney. One of the benefits of Fringe is being able to explore territory you are unfamiliar with to see if the piece is still able to move and entertain you without having any prior knowledge of the subject matter. This piece accomplished both.
There is no verbal dialogue in this piece and relies on the movements of the actors, specific songs playing in the background by the band Evanescence, and the biggest thing of all…the actors expressions. The pain, anguish, and sadness of The Little Mermaid (played by Rachel Lynn Walker) made me get teary eyed. You could see and feel the love and the emotions she had just through a simple facial expression. When the father came walking to the stage, I was afraid. You could feel his power and strength within this piece. I had an instant hate for the Sea Witch and her minions for the same reasons.
Even though I had never read or seen any incarnation of “The Little Mermaid”, I was still able to follow and understand the story. If you’re a fan of this work, definitely check this out for a new way to experience this story. If you’re like me and have never read/seen it, you can still enjoy, follow, and be emotionally invested in this piece. All of the actors did an amazing job with this and, for me, succeeded with an emotionally impactful piece
