Sir Wilfrid Laurier presents The Little Mermaid
From the depths of the ocean, where dreams and desires collide, a lush orchestra worked to transform the setting from a simple high school auditorium, to an alluring magical realm, setting the scene for the upcoming underwater adventure ahead. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School's production of The
Little Mermaid, music by Alan Menken, tastefully captured the essence of the classic tale with its captivating musical performances, meticulous sets and heartfelt love story.
The young mermaid Ariel (Isabelle Strachan) is filled with an insatiable yearning for the human world, which reaches its peak with her eventual meeting of the charming Prince Eric (Samuel Sheahan). After falling for the Prince, she makes the perilous bargain with infamous Sea Witch, Ursula by sacrificing her voice in exchange for a chance of true human love. Ariel then embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, filled with emotional waves, soaring as high as the tide.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School's production team took on the challenge of telling the story which most know well, and with that they created a notable performance with exceptional attention to detail and mesmerizing stage presence.
Sheahan mastered the art of princely charm with a charismatic execution of Eric, a young prince who just wishes to be free at sea with his soon-to-be bride Ariel, portrayed by Strachan.
Just as well, Strachan captivated each scene with a graceful presence, protruding a sense of wonder and magic with an entrancing voice that exuded a sense of longing, curiosity and a touch of innocence. From wide-eyed glances to ear to ear smiles, the two worked masterfully together to create a palpable sense of chemistry and that glistening sense of love at first sight.
Diving deeper into the performance, the stage was captured by Aquata, played by Anna Taylor, who commended the scene with a vivacious demeanour. Taylor emitted an air of spirited sass. Taylor's clever remarks and mischievous glances added a level of witty sophistication to a charming performance.
Apart from the spectacular performances from the featured cast, one must take in account the exemplary array of emotions that were implemented by Sir Wil's Sweet Lights Team, who utilized strobe lights to capture the mood of each scene to a T, from Ursula's pure rage, to Ariel and Eric's true love. The Sweet Lights furthered each scene by augmenting their intricate emotional complexity, reflecting the words in their lights. Yet it was not only the lighting that captured the feel of the play, the costumes constructed and prepared by Sir Wil's Beyond My Wildest Costumes were exceptional to say the very least, with a notable mention of Ursula's exquisitely crafted gown, which embodied her regal elegance and powerful presence.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School's spin on a timeless tale was one that embarked on a journey of diving into a wondrous world, where love knows no bounds and self-discovery has all the power to reign supreme.