DC Metro Theater Arts: The world seems to have realized that there are pervasive problems in many traditional Disney movies. Countless articles have been written about the issues, from Ariel giving up her voice for a man, to a nonconsensual kiss being life-saving. Countless times I’ve heard a parent say they’re forbidding their daughter from watching princess movies. But The Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience, running now through March 6 over in Union Market, has taken note, and done something about it.
2 comments:
This is an extremely interesting and yet extremely difficult form of theatre to pull off well. Too far one way and it easily becomes schlocky dinner theatre with no real weight behind it, easily forgotten and brushed off. Too far the other way and it becomes a dirge, a slog to get through, not something fun and astounding but sombering and long. The description of this play though seems to be so exciting. I remember the Little Mermaid being my favorite Disney movie of all time when I was younger. There were always certain parts though that I could never watch. I would run out of the room and count the seconds until the scene was over and I could come back to the room. So this show seems absolutely incredible as a long time lover of this base story. Additionally, the design elements are really compelling, it reminds me kind of like children’s playtime dress up when I was little.
I had my very first experience with dinner theatre over winter break. I think it is a bit exciting to see the endless possibilities of dinner theatre. There are very little limitations on what you can and can’t do in that format. The Little Mermaid Cocktail Experience seems to really embrace this idea. The show I saw over break, T’eatro Zinzanni was huge. It was technically dinner circus with flying acts and other more circusy elements like balancing and tumbling. However, it also featured live cabaret style performance with a flushed-out story line and a five-course meal. Honestly it was a lot to process and at times even sensory overload… but in the best way possible. I think dinner theatre is a clever way to attract some niche audiences that may not be drawn to more traditional theatre. It feels a bit more like a tourist attraction to me, but again that could have just been the production I saw in Chicago.
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