THEATRE REVIEW – WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
During a recent visit to Winnipeg, Manitoba I attended the opening of Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Rainbow Stage Theatre. The show which runs until August 29th was a surprising experience. The Rainbow Stage production is performed under the dome in Winnipeg’s beautiful Kildonan Park, nestled among the towering oak and elm trees by the meandering bank of the Red River.
The production itself is riveted with extraordinary talent and amazingly creative costuming. This show pulls out all the stops and transcends local theatre to new heights with its family oriented approach and incomparable entertainment value.
The storyline for The Little Mermaid is not new to any young lady – or adult women. Considering that the original film debuted in 1989, the audience was clearly comprised of 30-somethings and their young children. For many I’m sure it was reliving their childhood and passing it on.
As the story goes: In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.
This production is based on one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken. It’s a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID captures your heart with its timeless tale and irresistible songs including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”
The large cast of characters was superb with some like Aadin Church, who plays the crab Sebastian, adds the comic relief to the show while the leads Colleen Furlan (Ariel) and Marc Devigne (Prince Eric) enthralled the attentive audience with their spot-on and flawless song renditions
Ambiance is everything. The dome-like structure from which the sounds of stirring overtures, moving ballads, and thunderous applause have been known to emanate every summer is a curious landmark and is the theatrical haunt of Rainbow Stage, the Winnipeg-based theatre company that has been in continuous operation longer than any other outdoor theatre company in Canada.
The summer of 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the venerable not-for-profit, which has grown steadily in prestige and stature throughout its six decades in operation. A half-century of critically-acclaimed Broadway-style musicals has earned Rainbow Stage an international reputation for artistic quality.
For six decades Rainbow Stage has been making musical theatre magic in its gorgeous outdoor setting, creating cherished memories that span generations of theatre goers, and every step along the way a stone was laid to build for the future.
With 60 years in the books and still growing, Rainbow Stage has firmly established itself as a must-see artistic, cultural, and community institution in central North America.
THE LITTLE MERMAID runs until August 29th. Catch it if you can!
Ticket price range:
Children $24 – $59.50;
General $35 – $59.50
All taxes and fees included in ticket prices.
Tickets available at www.rainbowstage.ca or 204-989-0888
Rainbow Stage follows general theatre policies; No Babes In Arms, everyone must have a ticket.
Review by Joey Cee
