Monday, March 1, 2010

The Little Mermaid


The Little Mermaid
Directed and designed by James P. Byrne.

April 16 – May 16, 2010
Friday nights at 7:00, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 3:00
School Vacation Week Matinees at 1:00; April 20 – 23
ASL/AD: Friday May 14 at 7:00 & Sunday May 16 at 3:00

WFT’s Andrea Ross (Saint Joan, Sarah Crewe, Liesl, Ramona Quimby, and Winnie Foster) is the ever-curious Little Mermaid Pearl, enthralled with the unknown world beyond the sea and the humans that inhabit it. On one of her adventures to the ocean's edge, a charismatic young man catches her eye. After a ferocious storm sweeps him from his ship, Pearl swims to his rescue—and falls desperately in love. Her quest to find him lands her in the clutches of the spiteful Sea Witch, with whom she must make a dreadful bargain.

Above the sea, among the humans, the voiceless Pearl struggles with loss, misunderstanding, and rejection but overcomes each setback with courage and growing confidence, ultimately winning the heart of everyone she meets including Prince Eric. Faithful to Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale (but with a happier ending), this adaptation teems with tumultuous characters, dramatic undercurrents, deep emotions, rippling humor, and a titanic battle between good and evil. THE LITTLE MERMAID will thrill young children, teens, and adults alike.

James P. Byrne (Director) trained at the Harwich Junior Theatre, attended NorthWestern, did time in the East Village, and now produces, teaches, designs, and directs theatre with and for all ages. From Provincetown to Boston, New York to New Orleans to Los Angeles; using drag queens, children, visual artists, and professional actors, Jim Byrne has presented works by Shakespeare, Frank L. Baum, Charles Ludlum, Homer, the Dalai Lama, the Hopi, and Ryan Landry. Most recently Mr. Byrne directed Valet of the Dolls with the Gold Dust Orphans and J. Hagenbuckle’s Dracula, Blood of the Vampire at the Harwich Junior Theatre. Previous WFT directing credits include Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Winnie-the-Pooh, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Trumpet of the Swan, The Tempest, The Hobbit, Stuart Little, Romeo and Juliet, and Happy Days.

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