Anna Burnside reviews ‘a brilliantly judged piece of work.’
The story of the mermaid Ariel and her quest to find love on dry land is a Disney staple rather than a panto stalwart. But Unfortunate, Ursula the Sea Witch’s backstory, has been a glitzy musical theatre hit. A Christmas spectacular is not such a big jump.
The start is not auspicious: a shipwreck that needs to be explained, more exposition and a song and dance routine with strong cruise ship energy.
But when Johnny Mac bounces sideways onto the stage and explains that he is a crabstick - this year - there’s a sigh of relief. Then Elaine C Smith is transported on in her oceanic chariot, and we are cooking with gas.
Her opening number, ‘I’m Mary Monkfish’ (to the tune of ‘I’m Every Woman’) is a fishy feminist anthem.
What follows is a modern take on the traditional Glesga pantomime. The set pieces are present and correct, including an excellent four-handed cumulative song with props and mayhem. The first half finale, with Mac travelling to the land above the sea in a hydraluic illuminated seahorse, is a delight. But, thanks to Alan McHugh’s contributions to the book, there are also lo-fi delights.
At one point Mac comes on stage attacking a Doctor Marten with a knife. He’s just cutting aboot.
The pop culture references are well done - there’s a clever Traitors sequence with Claudia wigs and cloaks. The school-age matinee audience went absolutely mental at snatches of songs that fly over the oldies’ heads. Liam Gallagher - Mac in a parka - makes an appearance.
Darren Brownlie as Dishy Fishy and Hannah Jarrett-Scott as the conniving sea witch do a grand job of narrating, keeping the plot boiling and, in Jarrett-Scott’s case, singing some showstoppers. She has pipes and can use them in a giant swirly sea monster wig and octopus’s gown.
This is a brilliantly judged piece of work, pushing every group in the audience’s buttons. The film version? As McHugh might put it, that Disney matter.
The Little Mermaid performs at Glasgow’s Kings Theatre until January 4, 2026. For further information, go to the theatre’s website.
Photo by Danny Kaan.
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