MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Playhouse wants to take you undersea this weekend.
As the cast sings, “Under the Sea. Under the Sea. Darling, it’s better. Down where it’s wetter. Take it from me.”
Director Doug Wertz is incredibly proud of the 38 cast members in the youth theater’s production of Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr., which opens Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Mansfield Playhouse, 95 E 3rd St.
“The talent of these kids will simply blow you away,” said Wertz. “I say it almost every kids’ show: the kids are just amazing.”
Based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, “Little Mermaid Jr.” tells the memorable tale of mermaid Ariel, who falls in forbidden love with a prince.
“Same story. It’s still a Disney story, but it’s a little more compressed,” Wertz said. “The junior versions are written to do things a little more rapidly and to do things without a lot of lighting and effects.”
Teresa Marhefka, 17, who plays Ariel, auditioned for any role. She’s previously played Cinderella in “Into the Woods” and Wendy in “Peter Pan,” but she didn’t want to get her hopes up for a lead role.
“I was definitely a little surprised,” she said about her role.
Prince Eric, the man Ariel falls head over tail for, is played by Martin Rawls, 16.
He’s no stranger to lead roles either. He played Shrek in the Playhouse’s “Shrek: The Musical Jr.” last October.
“(But) this is a lot different than what I’ve done,” he said.
Prince Eric, Rawls says, is a more “serious, romantic” role when compared to Shrek.
He likes how the directors have helped him to hone his talents.
“I plan to be on Broadway one day,” he said.
This production of Little Mermaid Jr. includes the well-known songs “Kiss the Girl,” “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World.”
“What we’ve done with some of this music is added some fantastic choreography for the kids,” Wertz said.
Only a few cast members are “dancers,” but everyone shakes their fins, keeping up with the music.
“It makes it so much fun to watch that you don’t know where you are supposed to be watching at some points,” Wertz said.
“During ‘Under the Sea,’ even though Sebastian is singing it, we have five different groups of people out there dancing to the song until the very end.”
Evan Wertz, 16, plays Sebastian. Throughout the show he will be talking and singing in an accent.
“You have to be fun, I suppose,” he said, explaining how he acts like the lively crab, “Very outgoing.”
He’s familiar with performing. His first show was at age 4.
While he says it’s a show for all-ages, he thinks it’s the perfect evening out for a family.
“Families will love it, especially the little kids,” he said.
Show dates are June 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and June 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at mansfieldplayhouse.com or can be purchased by calling the box office at 419-522-2883 Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.
