★★★★ (4 of 5)
We were keen to catch up with the new production of Unfortunate - The Untold Story Of Ursula The Sea Witch which we originally reviewed back in July 2024 on its first major UK tour.
Now the production is back for a festive season at the Quays Theatre at the Lowry in Salford (and then on to the Other Palace in London). In the interim some revisions have been made, songs have been added and numbers cut. So quite an overhaul of the basic show, plus an all new cast to tell the story of the misunderstood Octo-woman.
Musically, there has been quite a big revision. we can see six new numbers in the show and for the most part these all enhance the proceedings, as does indeed the revamp of the script. "Another Day (Under The Waves)" sets the tone perfectly for this piss take of the Disney ideal (and indeed "We Didn't Make It To Disney" has thankfully been retained, as it is one of the best numbers).
We are taken back to the beginning of Ursula's story, where she falls in love with Triton, the son of King Neptune, only to have Neptune fake the killing of a sea cumcumber in her name and banish her to the dark waters, all so his son doesn't get to marry the Octo-pussy. Many years later however, when Triton is now King himself, he is forced to seek Ursula's help in dealing with his headstrong youngest daughter Ariel...
This new production is every bit as wonderful as previous interations of the show, and it comes with a mostly new cast of fine players. Allie Dart has been retained to provide the wonderful Colette, chef to the court of Prince Eric. Her Edith Piaf-inflected "Les Poissons" is one of the highlights of the evening. Like all the performers, she doubles in several roles, not least that of crab Sebastian. Seeing her cleverly performing both roles in the kitchen scene is sheer joy. Miracle Chance delights as Ariel, a mermaid with Essex girl attitude, and who hits all the comic moments head on. Her solo "Where The Dicks Are" causes a riot of laughter. Blair Robertson is hunky sculpted Triton, a commanding voice and adding fishy machismo into the proceedings. James Spence seems to be a star on the ascendent, just starting his career but with bags of charisma, and his morally dubious King Neptune kick starts the show much laughter.
But the evening belongs - as it always should - to Sam Buttery, whose devious Ursula Squirts is a force of nature. Part cartoon villain, part drag queen, part diva, Buttery dominates the show. From the first note to the last, its a star performance.This Octo-woman is not going to be pushed around by anyone, least of all a Mer-man! She gives high energy realness to the much maligned sea witch. Its a role which offers great scope, and Buttery makes the most of every OTT moment. The role might have been written for her.
Jasmine Swan creates the underwater world with style, managing with a few pieces of scenery to conjure up the various locales of the story both in the water and on land. Coupled with puppetry of a high order, and the atmospheric lighting of Adam King, it all adds up to a festive adult feast. Two musicans are listed, keys and drums, so the musical backing must be heavily sequenced, however the songs come over with gusto, so the producers have got it right.
We arrived with fears that the show we loved would perhaps not be quite as good with major changes and a new cast, but left assured everyone involved has taken it to a whole new level of maritime fabulousness. Welcome back Ursula and the sea world crew, it is good to know the show is in such safe hands.
Rob & Ian
Keep up to date with all things Ursula at the UNFORTUNATE MUSICAL WEBSITE
Further listening:
It can only be the 2023 UK Tour cast recording featuring Shawna Hamic and River Medway, its fabulously fishy fun from a hit squad cast. Get suckin' on it via major streaming services.
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