Wyvern Theatre SYP 2024. Yes folks – it’s that time again – the Wyvern Theatre’s summer youth project 2024. I’ve seen several summer youth projects over the years and they’ve always been splendid. And in this year’s production, (the THIRTIETH SYP), The Little Mermaid and the high production values of these productions are as much in evidence in this joyous production as ever.
Directed by that Pantomime Dame extraordinaire, David Ashely, the entire cast and ensemble shimmered their way around the stage and the entire auditorium – no aisle knowingly goes to waste in the SYP!
It was all wonderful and nothing fishy about it at all. The jokes won’t get any better than that so I’ll stop there.
You’ve got two more days to catch (see what I did there?) this highlight of the Wyvern’s calendar so book your tickets NOW – HERE: https://booking.trafalgartickets.com/en/wyvern-theatre-swindon/buyingflow/tickets/21033/
Awesome
I have a Canadian friend, who I tease a tease a little, over her use of the adjective ‘awesome’. But when it comes to the SYP – we’ve seen several together now, including this one – there couldn’t be a better one. Writing as someone who still hasn’t memorized their mobile phone number, I’m in total awe that the young people involved learn all their words and their moves in such a short time. The whole thing is confected from the raw ingredients to the finished soufflé in about ten days. And that culinary reference makes a nifty segue into giving a special mention to two cast members.
Of course EVERYONE is terrific. But a spotlight for making us laugh goes to Toby Barton as the French chef Louis displaying some excellent, exaggerated Gallic shrugging. He was great value. I have to stay though, during that scene I was somewhat expecting it to conclude with the crab, Sebastian, on a plate. But then that would have been less Hans Christian Anderson/Disney and more Quentin Tarantino …
Then, besides the main characters of course, we both enjoyed Bethany Tunley as Scuttle the seagull. Also good value, she flapped her way around the stage with aplomb. And I loved her outfit with the flying goggles on her head. V clever and amusing.
About the Little Mermaid
As I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned here before, there’s nothing new under the sun – or in this case – the sea. For, way before Disney turned this watery tale into a block-busting movie it existed as a fairy tale written by Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen.
The Little Mermaid then (in Danish, Den lille havfrue), sometimes translated in English ‘As the Little Sea Maid was first published in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales for children. So it’s a story almost as old as the oceans – well ok – that’s an exaggeration. But it had been around a long time before it got the Disney treatment.
The story tells a tale of a young mermaid princess, willing to give up her oceanic life to have a human soul. I daresay you all know the story anyway so I’ll say no more about this lovely story about identity and self-discovery. I will note though that, and relevant considering recent events, it also carried a message about not fearing different. That not all different is bad. ‘Not all humans are bad’ – I’m paraphrasing – cried Ariel. Indeed they’re not. And likewise neither are all Muslims, Jews, Gays, brown-eyed people … etc, etc, etc. And so, as this Guardian article explains, that’s why we need the black Ariel in Disney’s film.
PS: I’ve been attending these things for a few years now and have never, until last night, seen the presence of MPs/Cllrs. Not once. Last night broke the mould – both our MPS and a borough cllr (and partners) were in attendance. And not only for the reception but the entire performance. Good to see.
