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Adapted from Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, The Mermaid Princess is a inventive new take of the original, much loved story. It is the tale of a young mermaid princess, who sacrifices her voice, and finally everything else, for the sake of love.
Daria Menichetti performed the role of the love seeking and eager young mermaid princess with a tremendous amount of flair, showing us how the character matured as her heart was broken and perfectly portraying her pain using beautiful physical performance.
Raffaella Gardon, as the play’s narrator, brought a childlike feel to the performance, engaging and sprightly, she was a welcome break from the sinister and dark atmosphere that consumed much of the show.
With lighting shining from both above and the sides of the stage, it really did seem that the actors were surrounded by the ocean. The vibrant blues and the deep greens were beautiful and captivating in some scenes, yet foreboding and sinister in others, showing how unpredictable and ruthless the sea can be.
I thought that with a play such as this, the costume had the potential to be light, pretty and elegant, although the Teatro Kistmet decided to opt for darker and rougher costumes, these fitted with the sorrow and cruelness of the plot.
I had expected a more ‘disneyfied’ performance, perfect for a younger audience, but we were in fact shown a darker, less patronising version of The Little Mermaid, enjoyable for both adults and children over the age of eight. For those who want to watch another fairytale with a happily ever after ending, prepare for disappointment.
Lori Thurston
Sudbury Upper School
14th April 2010 |