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Everything’s better under the sea in Drury Lane’s ‘The Little Mermaid’

“The Little Mermaid” — 4 stars

Drury Lane Theatre’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is not only an effervescent escape from reality, it also morphs into a pep rally for Ariel, her friends and enemies.

As favorite characters and songs emerged, parents and grandparents applauded and cheered while kids bounced in their seats during the Thursday night opener, directed by Scott Weinstein.

The theater version of “The Little Mermaid” deviates slightly from the beloved Disney movie, which diverged from the poignant 1837 fairy tale by Denmark’s Hans Christian Andersen with a happy ending.

Ariel (Sarah Kay) longs for the world above the sea in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

At the essence is yet another Disney take on a dysfunctional family with a murderous brother-sister power struggle between King Triton and the sea witch Ursula that parallels the father-daughter dynamic between the ruler and his youngest daughter, Ariel.

Add to that the transformation from sea to land, from teenager into grown-up, and there’s a lot beneath the surface.

As Ariel, Sarah Kay’s intoxicating soprano owns the siren call that captures Prince Eric’s heart. She ably moves from pathos in “Part of Your World” to humor, bringing out the amusing physicality of Ariel’s adjustment to life on land.

Ariel (Sarah Kay) falls in love with Prince Eric (Patrick Johnson) after rescuing him in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” (Flounder) Maya Lou Hlava and Scuttle (Landree Fleming) look on. Courtesy Brett Beiner

Playing Prince Eric, Patrick Johnson, a senior at Chicago College of Performing Arts, looks and sings like he was born to be a Disney prince. His strong tenor and youthful energy creates an effortless chemistry with Kay in their romantic and comic moments, particularly in “One Step Closer.”

You could spend hours arguing over who is the evilest familial Disney villain — Uncle Scar in the “Lion King” or Aunt Ursula in “The Little Mermaid.”

But unlike Scar, Ursula has a backstory of neglect by her father that led to her murdering multiple sisters only to be deposed by Triton in the theater version of the story.

Ursula (Sawyer Smith) gives Ariel (Sarah Kay) an impossible choice in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

Sawyer Smith’s Ursula sucks up the oxygen on stage with a vampy menace that draws laughs and unease. Ably backing up the sea witch are villainous eels Flotsam (Leah Morrow) and Jetsam (Ryan Michael Hamman).

Anand Nagraj’s King Triton has a gravitas that blends well with his uncertainty as a single father on how to handle his free-spirited daughter.

King Triton (Anand Nagraj) seeks help from Sebastian (Michael Earvin Martin) to deal with his daughter Ariel in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

Meanwhile, Michael Earvin Martin as Sebastian, who delivers on Calypso favorites “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl,” is a charming foil for Ariel.

A tight ensemble cast also provides drama and fun whether it’s facing a storm at sea, chasing a crab or sister rivalries fathoms deep.

Planting an ocean onstage is every scenic designer’s nightmare, but Tijana Bjelajac’s use of sea colors and fabric ably convey the underwater illusion. And spot-on puppets for characters like Flounder and Sebastian merge effectively with the actors to create a perfect under-the-sea experience that elevates this high-quality production.

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Location: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com

Showtimes: Various times and dates through Jan. 12

Tickets: Between $74 and $125 for ages 13 and older and $65 for kids 12 and younger

Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes, with a 20-minute intermission

Rating: Rated G

Ariel (Sarah Kay) and Prince Eric (Patrick Johnson) share a strong chemistry in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner
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