For a story mostly set under water, a noteworthy delight of the stage version of “The Little Mermaid” is that it features more high-flying performances than most Cirque du Soleil tent shows.
Returning to La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, where “The Little Mermaid” reached the loftiest heights ever at the theater’s box office in 2016, it remains a compelling concoction that elevates a story which is, at times, earthbound.
Beyond the wires and harnesses, and the rest of a galvanizing physical production, what makes things soar is Disney’s elixir over the decades for ramping up formulaic fairy-tale plots through well-developed sidekick characters outfitted with catchy songs and comedy bits.
While this touring production — showcasing a deep pool of locally based equity and newcomer talent — may not be brand new, it continues to deliver a shiny and fun time.
If a scene epitomizes the show at its most fully realized, it is the calypso homage extolling the glories to be found “Under the Sea.”
Led by Sebastian the crab (a winning Dana Orange, costumed in all red, looks a bit more lobster-y despite the oven mitt claws), this simple, sunny tune tracks back to the original 1989 animated film.
Built on Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s cherished songwriting, a cohesive unity of almost every component of live theater design is brought to bear to the number.
In a dazzle of rich, bright hues of lighting, costuming, makeup and props, the effect is like being dipped into a visual vat of rainbow swirl lollipops. The glittering impact is capped by a bath of bubbles floating down onto the audience.
That scene is an ensemble tour de force. Many of the other show’s highlight moments are elements built around one of the side characters.
Notable is one featuring Scuttle the seagull (played in suitably gruff and salty tones by Quintan Craig). As a bird, Craig rightfully spends most of his time swooping above the stage, landing and taking off frequently enough that perhaps he should receive Air Force flight pay.
All the more ironic, then, that his second act kick-off number “Positoovity” is positively land locked. He and three fellow gulls (Daniel Dawson, Kurt Kemper, Edgar Lopez) engage in a tightly choreographed, spry tap number.
Another keeper is “Les Poissons.” Less celebrated in Disney’s canon of comedy songs flambe-ing French cookery — “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Souped Up” in “Ratatouille” — that’s maybe that’s because nobody elsewhere got lucky enough to see it feature actor Jeff Skowron.
Skowron routinely provides exclamation points in Southern California theaters and this number is ideal: It requires — and, oh, how he delivers — a practiced, exaggerated accent, attenuated goofy mannerisms and adroit, lightning-timed physicality which plays out wonderfully in this manic slapstick workout.
It’s tempting to further praise Skowron’s another four to five minutes into the ground, but there are other things to like.
Ariel, to these eyes, is better off in the show when she has a tail versus two legs, the ocean better suited, thematically, for her character’s pursuits than when marooned voiceless at the prince’s castle on land. Leianna Weaver, to these ears, embraces Ariel’s singing needs across three solos and constant ensemble singing without skipping a vocal beat.
Bickering siblings of the sea, Regina Le Vert as Ursula the sea witch and Trent Mills as King Triton, meet un-cute near the end of the show with malice towards each other. Before then, each actor fully and satisfyingly delivers on the over-size egos and sizable vocals their parts require.
Coleman Cummings makes for a winsome Prince Eric; Mitchell Lam Hau and Christopher Diem as, respectively, Urusula’s evil henchmen Flotsam and Jetsam, roll around (thanks, Heelys) better than any other electric eels; Kevin Kulp as Flounder never, ever does.
In 2016, people couldn’t seem to get enough of this production. Nothing in 2024 would seem to be different, possibly proving, in the best way, the more things don’t change, the more they can stay the same.
‘The Little Mermaid’
Rating: 3 stars (from a possible 4)
Where: La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada.
When: Through June 23. 7:30 p.m., Thursdays; 8 p.m., Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; Sundays, 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22-129
Information: 714-994-6310; lamiradatheatre.com