Ariel is *boring*. Okay, the characterization in Disney's 2023 telling of The Little Mermaid is marginally more interesting, with a whiff more agency. I’ve seen a lot of The Little Mermaid this year.
My daughter was in her school's performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. (she was a sailor and tentacle) this spring, so we watched Disney's 1989 animated feature (still a classic), her performance, the 2023 movie (in theaters as a family), and just this evening, another take. My son was in a 2 week camp run by Richmond's Parks Department that *also* performed The Little Mermaid Jr. over the short period. Ambitious! But also impressive what they were able to produce in such a short time with mostly elementary-age children.
Every version I saw of this contemporary retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen had something in common: Ursula is the most exciting role. Yes, the 1989 version was inspired by legendary drag performer Divine (and it’s still my favorite version, performed perfectly by Pat Carroll), but every other performance I watched references this interpretation. Melissa McCarthy was the only truly fun performance in the 2023 movie (though yes, Halle Bailey's vocals were fantastic), and the role itself—when referencing the 1989 version—lends itself well even to child performers that want to ham it up and try to get some laughs out of an audience full of parents.
Ariel always has to be the youngest child, longing for what she isn't supposed to have. Eric is constrained by his role. Triton and Sebastian are varying degrees of stern authority. Flounder is...a sounding board for Ariel. But Ursula? So much life and humor despite her darker intentions.
Anyway, this has been a nerdy dad in his 40s talking about a cartoon character. Thanks for something something my TED something.