Theater Fun’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ coming to the community playhouse

A cast of 46 is preparing for a five-show weekend run

By Calvin Nuttall

A splash of Disney magic is coming to Morgan Hill as the community theater prepares to stage “The Little Mermaid,” produced by Carol Romo. The show opened Oct. 24 at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse for a run of five shows.

“It’s a big show, lots of kids, beautiful music, incredible costumes,” Romo said. “A lot of choreography, a lot of dancing. Every scene there is this huge big dance. It’s fun, it’s enjoyable. I love it, the kids are having a great time.”

The musical retells the classic tale of Ariel (portrayed by Suzie Lockhart), a mermaid princess who yearns to walk among humans on the surface. Just like in the 1989 Disney film the show is based on, she risks her soul in a one-sided deal with the villainess Ursula (portrayed by Lucia Ruiz-McGinty) for the chance to become a part of their world.

“This show is about following your dreams and going through consequences on the way,” Lockhart said. “Keep trying, and in the end you will get a happily-ever-after.”

Ariel’s journey is beset by constant challenges, most notably the machinations of the villainess Ursula as she attempts to interfere with Ariel’s ability to fulfill her side of their contract. She hopes to gain control of Ariel’s soul as leverage over her father, King Triton.

“Disney always has themes,” Romo said. “Such as, ‘Be persistent.’ Ariel never gives up on wanting to become human. She gets yelled at by her father, who destroys her grotto, but she doesn’t let him stop her.”

The show boasts a cast of 46 youngsters, many of whom have never been in a theatrical production before, Romo said. For her, the chance to introduce a new generation of performers to her craft is its own unique reward.

“When they get onstage, they’re going to be blown away,” she said. “Half of this cast has never been on stage. Some have worked with me in one of my summer camps, but they’ve never done something this big, this thorough, this tough. They rehearse three days a week, which is a lot, but they do it, they show up.”

Perhaps the best part, Romo said, of introducing these burgeoning performers to theater is the first moment they step on stage. Soon the cast will begin rehearsing at the playhouse during what is called “tech week,” in the days leading up to opening night.

“I have a lot of favorite parts, but getting them on stage for the first time is always great,” she said. “They’re just like, ‘Whoa!’ Even if they have been on stage before, that makes it real to them. This is a real theater. A lot of little kids, but it is still a real theater. These kids will be pros by the time Sunday rolls around. We could go on tour, these kids are so phenomenal.”

For the kids, the experience offers a way to develop their confidence and learn both practical and social skills, such as public speaking.

“I’m naturally an introvert, so it’s been hard to push myself out of my shell and take on this role,” Ruiz-McGinty said. “Ursula is a very big personality, she is very out there, so I have to kind of push myself out of my shell. It is nice to take on a new character. I’ve been in shows before, and I’ve just built like a family, and it’s really nice to have those people to go to. I love being on stage and performing and interacting with the audience.”

Romo attributed much of the show’s success to the small army of parents that have joined together to make their dream a reality. In particular, she wished to thank Carol Bergot for her role in helping to organize the production, and Ericka Moore for her work on the costumes.

Calvin Nuttall is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter and columnist.