Disney's The Little Mermaid (2008 Original Broadway Cast)

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Album Description
Bring home BROADWAY'S NEWEST HIT, LITTLE MERMAID!

The Brand-New Cast Recording of Broadway's Sparkling New Musical featuring the beloved hits from the film PLUS 10 ALL-NEW SONGS from the Broadway Show!

Album Description
Based on one of the most beloved Disney films of all time and the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Little Mermaid is the sparkling Disney musical thats is making a splash on Broadway. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, The King of the Sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she's the girl with the perfect voice. The Broadcast Cast sails through the show's hits for all ages!

Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Critics not in swim with this gem of magical theatre! February 26, 2008
11 out of 14 found this review helpful

To everyone considering buying the Original Cast Album of Disney's newest Broadway musical, DO NOT HESITATE. The New York critics have labeled the show as being "too stylized" and "lacking in appeal" and even "more parade than theatre." To be perfectly honest, the critics these days favor small, low budget shows like SPRING AWAKENING and XANADU that are not of the caliber of the classic Broadway musical; true, these shows are very good, but are more in the Off-Broadway vein. So, it is not surprising that when a piece of Broadway magic hits the stage the critics label it as too spectacular or too sachrine. THE LIITLE MERMAID, despite New York critics' uneccessary harpooing of it, has been hailed by TIME as "the most ravishing show (I have) ever seen on a Broadway stage." Well, at least the folks at TIME get it, even if the cynical New York critics don't. The songs from the original film are all here, and in the case of some of them, mainly the serenading "Kiss the Girl," are actually beeter onstage than on film. The new songs, with music by the film's original composer Alan Menken, and new comer lyricist Glenn Slater are far from what the critics have called "syrupy;" the new material is actually very much up to par with the originals. True, they feel different because we aren't used to hearing them and haven't had them etched into onto our ear drums from repeated exposure, but they are wonderful nonetheless. In fact, some of them, such as the lovely "If Only" quartet, the mersisters' delightful ditty "She's in Love", and Ariel's sweet "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" could easily have been in the original film because they add music to moments from the film that made us want to sing with delight and wonder. Ursula's new material, "I Want the Good Times Back" and Eric's "Her Voice", along with the aforementioned "If Only" quartet are more adult in tone and may not completely make sense to very young audience members, but adults will love them, especially Ursula's deliciously sardonic "I Want the Good Times Back" (parents be warned that Ursula swears in this song: "...the whole damn works"). Sherie Rene Scott's Ursula is more Broadway diva than the dumpy, drag queen-esque witch of the original (don't get me wrong-I love Pat Carroll's original! She made the only Diney villaness that ever completely terrified me as a toddler), but Sherie's portrayl is delightful and refreshing, and with a little tongue-in-cheek homage to such fictional divas as SUNSET BOULEVARD's Norma Desmond. Sierra Boggess, to put it simply, IS Ariel. She brings the character that Jodi Benson originally created to delightful life, giving Ariel enough of "Sierra-ness" to make her more than a mere copy of what we saw on the screen. Norm Lewis, Titus Burgess, Sean Palmer, and Eddie Korbich are also wonderful, Titus giving his Sebastian delightful vocals, here high and lilting rather that low and rumbling as in the film, although the original voice, Samuel Wright, is wonderful as well. Also, the conclusion of the show is actually, to me, more logical and intimate than the monster movie-esque larger-than-life demise of Ursula that exists in the film. In the stage version, Ariel dispatches Ursula, which girls will love for it's "girl power" punch, by smashing her magic shell, the rather unstable source of all of her dark, black magic that she inherited from her and Triton's father (yes, Ursula is Ariel's aunt!). Also, Doug Wright has improved on two points only hinted at in the original script: Ursula's motives and the romance between Ariel and Eric. Rather than being a rather superficial and quick romance in the film, Ariel and Eric are given SOME TIME to fall in love here, and it is as Disney-cute as can be. To close, buy this album, go see the show if you are able, and ignore the critics, especially those at the New York Times, who are only lampooning the show because it is "another Disney show" and very modern in its costumes, set design, and lighting. Also, the show is optimistic and has a heart, unlike such musicals as SPRING AWAKENING that are pessimistic and end with warped and unhealthy parent-child relationships and despair - the complete opposite happens here. MERMAID goes against the grain of our pessimistic society and gives us permission to have hope, to have dreams, and to find our own "voices" when it comes to what is important to us.

2 out of 5 stars

UNFATHOMABLE! March 27, 2008
8 out of 18 found this review helpful

While quality, original productions like In The Heights and Passing Strange struggle to find their voices on Broadway, the Disney Machine continues to pump out recycled versions of already successful, enjoyable cartoons. The latest to take the plunge is Mermaid, which had the promises of being a good Broadway musical - once upon a time.

But, alas, me maties, alas.

First of all, Tritan and Ursala should not be brother and sister. Ick.

Second of all, ten new songs written for the stage is nice, but - 1. none of the songs further the story, and 2. none of the new songs blend in with the existing ones.

Also, does EVERYONE need to have a song? The only one spared a tune of his own is poor Flounder, and as humorous as Scuttle is, "Human Stuff" and "Positoovity" make the action ebb rather than flow. The Mersisters' 50s-flavored "She's In Love" sounds like a Grease drop-out, and "Sweet Child" by Flotsam & Jetsam is sour.

King Triton comes across as more evil than caring, but let's talk about Ursala. Sherie Renee Scott is terribly talented but terribly miscast as Ursala. She would have fared better as an Ariel. Her opening number "I Want the Good the Times Back" is less villianous and more vaudeville, and "Poor Unfortunate Souls" lacks all the delicious menacing flavor it should have.

Sebastian is void of the rugged characterizations associated with the part, and Prince Eric sings the obligatory handsome-leading-man-torch song with a gorgeous voice. However, it might have been more interesting had he been offered another verse of "Part of Your World" to provide an ironic touch.

To be fair, Sierra Boggess make a delightful Ariel, and her hopeful poignancy makes "Part of Your World" worthy of a Tony nomination. Okay, so she gives up her voice, but it's a shame that the title character of a musical swims on 2 full songs out of 29.

So, in short, The Little Mermaid, tanks, drowns, plunges, and ebbs. Let's sit back and wait for Enchanted-The Musical.

5 out of 5 stars

Better than the original, is that possible? February 28, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

Actually, it is!

At first I was a little swayed by all the negative reviews this show has been getting, but what do critics know? Obviously nothing if they had anything bad to say about this show. Just by the music I can envision it all on stage, I am sincerely hoping for a tour!

I absolutely love Ursula, Sherie Rene Scott has something so Idina Menzel-like to her voice that I can't help but love her! Sierra actually gives Jodi Benson a run for her money and yet gives her own twist on Ariel, not a carbon-copy of Jodi and that's great. Tituss Burgess actually does a great job as Sebastian.

It's always been hard for me to try and even say something is better than the original, but The Little Mermaid pretty much breaks that rule for me.

I guess this show is so optimistic that people overlook it for something more depressing such as Spring Awakening, which is a shame...because I always thought musicals should have something a tad bit positive about it.

5 out of 5 stars

FIN-TASTIC' February 28, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful

"The Little Mermaid" swims along a wave of melody gathering a net full of treasures from under the sea. And speaking of which who can resist the steel drum Jamaican inspired rhythms of "Under The Sea" merrily sung by Tituss Burgess as Sebastian the happiest crab in the ocean and Mr Burgess later on sings a calypso flavored tune as he tries to coax Prince Eric to "Kiss The Girl". Pretty Sierra Boggess as Ariel and the even prettier Sean Palmer as Prince Eric have a series of lovely songs including Ariels' "Part of Your World" and a new song for Prince Eric, "One Step Closer".

Then there is the force of nature named Sherie Rene Scott. Miss Scott is a shameless scene-stealer and as Ursula the Sea-Witch she grabs the show by each of her eight tentacles. Twice in Act One she stops the show-a new song "I Want The Good Times Back" and her idea of a good time is anything but. Then she brings the curtain down with "Poor Unfortunate Souls". It's a shame Sherie Rene Scott can't be in every show-she is to quote myself,"Fin-tastic".

There are 29 tracks on this CD and not a dud among them. Enchanting, just enchanting.

5 out of 5 stars

This is a delightful cast recording February 27, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

Composer Alan Menken brings "The Little Mermaid" to the stage nineteen years after it was shown in theaters, and it is still delightful. I felt like I was watching the show just listening to this cast recording. The overture is so fun. Sierra Boggess has a beautiful voice singing tunes like "The World Above" and "Part Of Your World". I love Tittuss Burgess singing "Kiss The Girl" and "Under The Sea". I love the calypso sound of these tracks. Sherie Renee Scott is so good as the evil Ursula. I love her delivery on the songs "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and "I Want The Good Times Back". Norm Lewis has a strong resonant voice on the track "If Only". Sean Palmer is a great singer. He displays both brave and romantic qualities in his voice on the tracks "Fathoms Below" and "Her Voice". I hope to see this show on Broadway some time soon.

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