The Little Mermaid

This production of The Little Mermaid is at least seminally linked to the Hans Christian Anderson story of the same name, and the Disney incarnation, but it has developed into a story that is quite different. Reminiscent of other fairy tales, most noticeably Snow White, this short play appears to draw on influences as diverse as manga and ballet.

The play opens with blue haired teenager Grace (a gorgeously naive performance by Jacinta Larcombe) dancing unselfconsciously in mismatched bra and knickers 'in a garden sprinkler' - she is obviously happy and free in an aquatic environment. When ordered to get dressed, she dons net stockings, shirt and skirt, a lovely allusion to fishing nets and her trapped state. While freed by the play's version of the handsome prince (Ben Gills), this freedom and love affair is sabotaged by her mother in a terrible betrayal.

Much of the story concerns her relationship with her mother (a very nicely layered performance by Georgia King) as they deal with the daughter's emerging sexuality and the mother's jealousy and feeling that her own best days are in the past.

A well-chosen trio of performers, there is a lovely blend of movement and dance with more conventional theatre.

Sensitively directed by Ian Sinclair and emotively lit (Chris Donnelly), the creative use of simple technical devices such as a fan and bubbles enlivened this production.

While not for everyone - this was clearly not what some audience members expected, my fifteen year old companion and I enjoyed this very much. An interesting, innovative production.

Kimberley Shaw