Unfortunate the musical

 

Review by Paul Towers, 8/4/24

Unfortunate – The untold story of Ursula the sea witch – book & lyrics by Robyn Grant & Daniel Foxx, Music by Tim Gilvin

Directed by Robyn Grant

Produced by Wildpark Entertainment, The Vaults & Dianne Roberts

At Curve til 9^th April 2024

“hilarious and pulls no punches”

In Disney’s Little Mermaid Ariel’s aunt, Ursula, has a small and villainous role in the story. Many feel this is a criminal oversight and so the authors of this Untold Story have set out to put matters right by placing Ursula front and centre stage in her own story.

While dipsy Ariel (Drag Race’s River Medway) still does all the stupid things that result in her losing her voice when she ventures on land, it is the bodacious Ursula (Shawn Hamic) who tears up the stage as the ‘baddest bitch in the Ocean, the undisputed Queen of Villains’.

Ariel’s father, Triton (Thomas Lowe) probably one of the campest supposedly straight guys, is in love with Ursula (nobody said this story was straightforward!) and is torn between his heart and his destiny to rule Atlantica.

Supported by a myriad of puppetry sea life the soundtrack is like a rock opera most of the time with original music that often contains echoes of the original Disney songs. Very clever. The set, designed by Abby Clarke (who also created the puppet designs and costumes) is a ship side on. Choreographer Melody Sinclair puts the ensemble through their paces, especially with the quick changes they need to make.

The script is hilarious and pulls no punches, especially when Ursula is raging against the various injustices heaped upon her. Shawn Hamic’s vocal talents are awesome and her unashamedly bulky stage presence and potty mouth makes her perfect for the role.

While there are still a few seats available for tonight’s final performance at Curve be warned Unfortunate is not the Disney-fied saccharine kids’ story of The Little Mermaid . This is a grown-up, X rated, in your face joyous rendition of the wonderful Ursula’s back story.

Pics: Pamela Raith

www.unfortunatemusical.com

www.curveonline.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk