Finding your voice is the theme; be part of that world March 26-28
LINWOOD — The Mainland Regional High School Drama Club has spent the past few months preparing for its production of “The Little Mermaid,” on stage March 26-28.
“When people hear ‘The Little Mermaid,’ they usually picture the beloved 1989 Disney film, with its bright animation, unforgettable songs, and maybe a few childhood memories of rewinding a favorite scene in the living room,” Director Phil Pallitto said. “For many of us, it was one of the first stories that made us fall in love with musicals.”
Because of that, he said, it’s easy to think of it as simply a children’s story.
“But beneath the spectacle, beneath the colorful costumes and familiar melodies, there is something deeper waiting to be discovered,” Pallitto said. “At its heart, ‘The Little Mermaid’ is about identity, which is exactly why it felt like the right choice for this year’s musical.”
Skylar Laubach, a senior taking part in his final production at MRHS, said he feels that the theme really resonates in today’s world.
“Everyone needs to be heard and everyone needs to feel heard,” Laubach said. “Everyone has their own story to tell and their own voice to portray to the world.”
Pallitto said “The Little Mermaid” helped launch the Disney renaissance and brought big animated movie musicals and sweeping storytelling back to life for a whole new generation.
He said Ariel, portrayed in the double-cast production by Audrey Hope Gill and Mia Patermo, isn’t rebelling for the sake of it but searching for where she belongs and who she’s meant to be.
“I think a big message from the show and to take it into society is just to be yourself and not let anybody come in between that,” Patermo said. “There are challenges and obstacles within life, but in the end, everything happens for a reason and you will find who you’re truly meant to be.”
Patermo, who recently finished auditioning, plans to pursue musical theater in college.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for my cast and the crew and everybody involved and my parents for being very supportive,” she said, noting she recently was accepted into the Boston Conservatory. She plans to visit over Spring Break.
Ariel takes her journey with friends Flounder (Madison McKnight/Asha Patel), Scuttle (Charlotte Gerber/Julia Plamantouras) and Sebastian (Lucy Tabasso/Alex Piergiovanni).
“That tension between expectation and self-discovery is timeless, and it resonates with all of us, no matter our age,” Pallitto said.
The musical also is about sacrifice. Ariel trades her voice for a chance to become human, transitioning into the darker part of the production featuring evil eight-legged Ursula (Kira Finnegan/Olivia Crede).
Kira Finnegan, playing the role of Ursula, looked fantastic in her costume designed by Julie Jackson.
“I am repeatedly amazed by what she pulls together, especially last year with ‘Hello, Dolly,’ in which she won her Bergen-Pack Award for costuming,” Finnegan said.
It is not the first time she has been the villain, noting she played the Wicked Witch in “The Wizard of Oz.”
“Playing Ursula is really a gift because it gives me kind of a break of trying to be nice all the time. Like, I get to kind of boss people around and, you know, it’s really fun,” she said.
Pallitto said identity is closely tied to the idea of voice.
“In a world shaped by pressure and perception, authenticity cannot survive without the courage to speak and to be seen,” he said. “When someone begins to find their voice and independence, it almost always affects the people who love them most. Independence rarely unfolds without friction.”
That’s when King Triton’s (Skylar Laubach/Declan Kardchilova) protectiveness and Ariel’s determination collide, and neither is entirely wrong.
“The story reminds us that love can sometimes look like fear, that growth requires trust, and that change, magical or otherwise, asks something of all of us. Shortcuts have consequences, control is not the same as care, and becoming who you are takes courage, resilience and just a little leap into the unknown,” Pallitto said.
Laubach said he enjoys playing the role of Triton.
“I love it because I get to play a father to seven different people in this show and I get to hold a very tall trident that glows,” Laubach said. “It’s loads of fun because I get to be like endearing and powerful; I get to be the king of the sea.”
It’s the first role he has had in which he has a solo.
“This is my third year doing Drama Club and this is the first time I’ve been given a role that has technically a solo,” Laubach said. “So as much as I’m wearing a giant costume and it’s kind of a funny role, I’m happy though because I love my character.”
Pallitto said the production is vocally, physically and technically demanding, adding that the cast and crew “embraced the scale and complexity of this production with professionalism well beyond their years.”
Freshman Johnny DeRitchie, who has been taking part in drama since middle school, said he was thrilled to get the part of Prince Eric.
“I’m very grateful to be the lead both nights on my freshman year. I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m very glad that I got it,” he said.
Senior Jack Traa has performed in every production since his freshman year, noting he is the only guy in the cast who was in “Anything Goes” four years ago.
He said he has enjoyed be part of a group “that are so like-minded, that all come together to put on an amazing production day in, day out.”
Traa said the rehearsals have been emotional.
“I’m leaving theater behind for a while,” he said, noting he plans to pursue premed in college and will not have time to perform. “I can’t put it into words how weird it feels to be leaving this place, because it feels like a home. I know everybody tells us it goes quick, and you don’t believe it until you’re waiting for your last college acceptance letter.”
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are available at the door at the high school.
Cast list
Ariel: Audrey Hope Gill/Mia Patermo
Pilot: Patrick Mularz/Xavier Dawdy
Prince Eric: Johnny DeRichie
Grimsby: Jack Traa
Flounder: Madison McKnight/Asha Patel
Scuttle: Charlotte Gerber/Julia Plamantouras
King Triton: Skylar Laubach/Declan Kardchilova
Sebastian: Lucy Tabasso/Alex Piergiovanni
Ursula: Kira Finnegan/Olivia Crede
Chef Louis: Evelynn Smith
Flotsam: Cecelia Foreman/Callie Collins
Jetsam: Hailey Rhodes/Olivia Wrigley
Mersisters: Jules Brummet, Anna Sturgis, Ashley Welsey, Emma Albert, Adie Donovan, Addison Pepper
Dancers: Chloe Brandt, Callie Collins, Adie Donovan, Xavier Dawdy, Lily Edge, Cecelia Foreman, Charlotte Gerber, Julia Plamantouras, Brett Heist, Audrey Hope Gill, Mia Patermo, Madison McKnight, Asha Patel, Patrick Mularz, Addison Pepper, Alex Piergiovanni, Lucy Tabasso, Julianna Reed, Hailey Rhodes, Evelynn Smith, Adrian Sykes, Ashely Welsay
Ensemble: Josephine Breitinger, Soleil Diaz, Ava DiPasquale, Liam Murray.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
