Forget about Ariel and Flounder, the performing arts students at Bow Valley High School are preparing to bring the original tale of The Little Mermaid to life.
The cast and crew of the production have been hard at work putting the final touches on their rendition of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a young mermaid willing to trade her life beneath the surface of the sea for the love of a human prince.
The cast will pull out the stops for three performances, March 13, 14 and 15, at the Cochrane RancheHouse theatre.
“We’re performing the classic children’s tale as it would read in an old-fashioned storybook,” said Hayley Mochar, a Grade 11 student. “We’ll be bringing these original characters to life on stage.”
Mochar plays “Tort,” one of a duo of tortoises who are the evil accomplices of the sea witch. She’s been a regular player in the extra-curricular performing arts group’s undertakings since she was a freshman.
The role of the young, dreamy mermaid will be played by Grade 12 student Josie Neven-Pugh.
With school rehearsals dwindling, the crew will soon be relocating to the RancheHouse theatre to put the finishing touches on set design, costumes and perfomances. Jodi Hogan, the teacher overseeing the production, said the students have been logging a lot of hard work and after-school hours.
Mochar described the Disney variation as light, airy and funny. Although its not considered a musical, the audience can expect to hear a tune or two from the cast.
Curtains are slated to open at 7 p.m. March 13 and 14, while the March 15 performance is set to start at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for children and seniors. They can be purchased in advance at Great Things in Store, or at the door.
