Theater Review: 'The Little Mermaid' at Bethel High School

By Nancy Sasso Janis

Bethel High School is presenting a shiny production of “The Little Mermaid” in the auditorium on their campus. Remaining performances of this adventure under the sea are scheduled for Apr. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on Apr. 2 at 2 p.m.

This year the creative team decided that it was important to put on a children’s show for their community and opening night brought out a strong contingency of young children in the audience. Director Crystal Morgan notes that the musical “really has something for every member of the family with heartbreaking ballads, lively dance numbers, and a ton of fish puns.”It was the first time that I had been invited to review a production at Bethel High School and I was happy to attend.

The Little Mermaid, with a book by Doug Wright and music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film and was originally produced of course by Disney Theatrical Productions.

There are over 75 students involved in this student-driven production. Students have their hands in set and prop creation, lighting design and execution, run crew, front of house, participating in the pit orchestra, crafting costumes, as well as singing, dancing and acting. The students were directed by Crystal Morgan and Kristen Heyel as producer. Choreographers Jennifer Verderosa and Sara Parille have designed some wonderful moves for the students and covered many dance styles.

Vocal director Christine Manalo, who I have known for many years, made sure that the singers sounded their best. She also played keyboard in the pit, so she had a front row seat to enjoy their performances. She is pictured above in a great fish hat that she wore during intermission.

Brendan Michalko conducted the mix of students and professional musicians in the pit.

Alexandra Lavelle ‘23 possesses the coveted singing voice for the leading role of Ariel, The Little Mermaid. Lavelle has been performing since the fourth grade; she does not plan to major in theater in college, she hopes to participate in community shows throughout her college career. William Esposito is a stellar Prince Eric, with a wonderful tenor and strong stage presence.

Speaking of stage presence, there is Lara Cruzado ‘23 in the role of the sea witch Ursula. She fully embodies the villainous role in a fabulous costume and wig, has a fabulous belt, and never breaks character. Kudos to this young performer on a fabulous performance. Cruzado will attend NYU Tisch in the fall to study drama.

Ursula is attended by Izzy Danielsen and Willa Zalaznick ‘25 as sea eels Flotsam and Jetsam respectively. Zalaznick won a Halo Award for her role as Man in Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

The lovely Mersisters with “A” names include Libby Resendes, Georgia O’Connor ‘24, Nyah Rodriguez ‘25, Ava Lent, Emanuelle Masterlari ‘23, and Kendall Searle ‘23.

Fabiana Lima ‘25 tackles the role of the crab Sebastian and does well with the accent, the comedy and everything else in a great sparkly red costume. It is difficult to believe that while she has worked on backstage crews since middle school, this is her fist show as a cast member, encouraged to step out of her comfort zone by friends, family and the producer.

Jeremy Finn is a delight in the role of the prince’s guardian (and often seasick) Grimsby. Kara Rondano ‘25 shines as Flounder in her tenth show and Francesca DelGardo ‘23 is hilarious as the seagull Scuttle, in another great costume, and because she has been a dancer since the age of two, flies across the stage with conviction.

Pedro DaSilva ‘25 does well as Ariel’s father, King Triton. Dylan Ellis ‘24 appears in the second act as the prince’s Chef Louise. Gabriel Barboza ‘ 23 plays the pilot of Eric’s ship.

The specialty ensembles include the sailors, the Positoovity Gulls, maids, “Kiss the Girl” swans and water, the Contest Princesses and the chefs. Some of the performers did not submit their bios in time to be included in the virtual program reached via a QR code on the printed version.

Kristen Heyel designed the set that switches from undersea to the Prince’s castle with the help of quick crew members. Additional set pieces/construction are credited to Walmarie Alvarado and Jake Williams.

I was impressed with the costumes designed by Miss Laura Nilsen (BHS Class of 2020) for several reasons. Everything was appropriate for teen performers, while still evoking the original characters. Everything was colorful and allowed the dancers to move. The talented featured dancers make it look easy.

The students hope that this production brings joy and reminds us that “Life is the bubbles.”

Photos courtesy of Bethel High School

Tickets: https://www.bhstheaterboosters...

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.