Long long ago, 1837 to be precise, Danish author Hans Christian Anderson introduced the world to the story of The Little Mermaid, who gave up her life as a mermaid to be human. In 1989 Disney brought us the by now most globally familiar version, an animation that would herald the new age of Disney and has become one of their most popular titles. The late great Pat Carroll stole the show as she voiced the movie's most celebrated character, the bitter Octo-woman Ursula.
Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx spotted that the most fabulous creation in the Disney movie, Ursula The Sea Witch, was perhaps being undersold. What was her backstory? Why was she so evil? And couldn't she perhaps be a role model for plus size women with attitude? With composer Tim Gilvin on board, together they set about telling what they felt sure was Ursula backstory of rejected love and seething resentment. It was perhaps inevitable that what we are presented with is unashamedly camp and fabulous. Disney for adults.
Abby Clarke works miracles with her set, costume and puppet designs as she weaves us through the life of Ursula, big show number by big show number. At the centre of the evening, and its biggest draw, is the performance of veteran musical diva Shawna Hamic. She inhabits Ursula (or Ursula Squirts to give Ursula her full name) like a spurned drag queen, and as she herself says 'masturbation, chemical peels and rage' are what keeps her going. With the voice of Chaka Khan and the spirit of drag queen Divine, Hamic makes the evening her own and is worth every penny of the ticket price. Her comic put downs hit the spot whilst her love duet 'Sucking On You' with Triton, god of the sea, is a chart buster waiting to happen. Speaking of Triton, Thomas Lowe gives us low budget macho as he banishes Ursula yet retains an unrequited love for the silly Octo-woman who has designs on his daughter. Its a fine commanding, piss taking performance. Ariel herself is manifested by a star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, River Medway whose Essex girl delivery is a million miles away from the gentle tones of the movie. She's hilarious from start to finish, even when her voice is taken by Ursula, Medway's mannerisms and gestures prove her talent doesn't stop when the words do. The entire ensemble of ten work their socks off to bring us a high energy, outrageous evening of adult humour and song. Allie Dart's Sebastian, Jamie Mawson's ineffectual Eric and Julian Capolei as Grimsby and 'Tory mistress Vanessa' deliver in spades.
The score is full of highlights and earworms. 'We Didn't Make It To Disney' is a savage essay on representation, 'Where The Dicks Are' an anthem for Ariel's longings and the title track 'Unfortunate' would be welcome at any Gay disco in the country.
The band were slightly underwhelming at points, and could have done with a bit more umph, but this is more of a sound issue as such perhaps. Five musicians were listed in the programme, and this should have been enough to create a big sound but it was surprisingly muted.
Our visit in Wolverhampton marked the final date of Unfortunate: The Untold Story Of Ursula The Sea Witch's UK tour. We can't imagine for one second we have seen the last of the octo-diva. We have our chemical peels and rage ready for the next deep dive.
Rob & Ian
Further information can be found at the OFFICIAL UNFORTUNATE MUSICAL WEBSITE and the 2024 cast recording can be found on all major download and streaming services.
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