Berkshire on Stage

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let go of what Disney did to Hans Christian Anderson’s tragic and beautiful fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. When I read the 1837 short story for a literary analysis class I was livid about the liberties that Disney had taken with its source material. This was, of course, many years after my childhood, when I had watched the 1989 Disney film The Little Mermaid until I wore out the VHS tape. The stage musical version of The Little Mermaid is based on the Disney film and is a more lighthearted version of the story with a much happier ending. And it takes from the film the one thing I could never begrudge: its absolutely phenomenal music. From Sebastian the crab’s show-stoppers like “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl,” to deeply underrated gems like “Fathoms Below” and “Les Poisson,” and songs added for the stage musical like “I Want the Good Times Back” and “Positoovity,” The Little Mermaid has some of the best music I’ve ever heard. At Cohoes Music Hall, these musical numbers are performed by a talented cast. And while some elements of Playhouse Stage Company’s production are rather silly, even for a children’s show, they successfully produce a family-friendly spectacle that is sure to delight the young-in-age and young-at-heart.

Playhouse Stage Company has once again put together an exceptional cast; the high caliber of the cast is made all the more impressive by the fact that it is primarily made up of adolescent actors. The lead character, Ariel, is said to have the most beautiful voice in the sea, and lead actress Molly Kirby delivers with a perfect vocal performance. Equally impressive is the vocal performance of Jackson Majewski, who plays Ariel’s love interest Prince Eric with an endearing quirkiness that makes him a much more enjoyable character than the standard, flat “Prince Charming” type. In a supporting role, Liam Yerdon is energetic and hilarious as he fully embodies Scuttle the seagull. And the youngest member of the cast, Aaron Wood, plays Ariel’s young friend Flounder with an adept sense of comedic timing that rivals that of seasoned adult comedic actors.

Among the adults in the cast there is no weak link: Patrick Ryan Sullivan commands the Seven Seas and the stage as King Triton, Brandon L. Jones sings his heart out in some of the show’s best songs as Sebastian, and Nick Martiniano displays some top-notch physical comedy as Chef Louis. But the standout performance among the adults is by Molly Rose McGrath, who steals every scene she’s in as the villainous sea witch, Ursula.

The Little Mermaid is, of course, a children’s show, but that doesn’t mean it can’t appeal to adults. I wouldn’t say that adults will not enjoy Playhouse Stage’s production, but they have certainly leaned into the show’s playful childishness. There are even bubble machines on the stage, though they are used sparingly at the times that most call for bubbles. As talented as the cast is, it can be hard to take the ensemble seriously, regardless of talent, when they’re running around with dorsal fins on their heads and fish tails on their backsides. Yet when costumes are more simple, the underwater illusion is lost. Sebastian dresses in a red suit with a hat and cape with nothing to make him look like a crab, and so he just looks like a regular human courtier who is overly fond of scarlet. Perhaps there is no happy medium to be found, though costumer Danica Martino comes closest to striking the balance with the seagull costumes of Scuttle and his ensemble of tap dancing gulls. The lighting and scenic design, by David Heguy and Benny Pitt respectively, do a good job of creating the necessary underwater illusions. However I must say there are some missed opportunities for lighting effects to do even more to portray the magic of the seas and its inhabitants. 

I can nitpick about the missteps and missed opportunities in this production; as a critic that is indeed what I must do. But despite any and all imperfections in this show, the wonderful score and the talented cast make these foibles entirely forgivable. Watching The Little Mermaid, I was transported back to my childhood, and was every bit as infatuated with the story as I had been when I watched that VHS tape until it would no longer play. If you’re an adult with a low tolerance for childishness and silliness, you will have trouble finding this show enjoyable. But for everyone else—children, kiddish adults, and anyone ready to embrace a bit of childlike goofiness—The Little Mermaid at Cohoes Music Hall will dazzle and delight.

Playhouse Stage Company presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid by Doug Wright, with music and lyrics by Howard Ashman & Alan Menken, directed by Michael LoPorto, runs from July 22 – August 17, 2025, at the Cohoes Music Hall, 58 Remsen Street in Cohoes, NY. Production Manager: Emma Cunningham. Production Stage Manager: Jenna Speer. Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Putnam. Cast: Molly Kirby as Ariel, Jackson Majewski as Prince Eric, Joshua DeMarco as Grimsby, Aaron Wood as Flounder, Liam Yerdon as Scuttle, Patrick Ryan Sullivan as King Triton, Brandon L. Jones as Sebastian, Vandy Benson as Aquata, Olivia Stickles as Andrina, Nora Miller as Arista, Alexa Mertes as Attina, Mika Holbrook as Adella, Angela Billings as Alana, Molly Rose McGrath as Ursula, Andrew Calvacca as Flotsam, Keith DuBois as Jetsam, and Nick Martiniano as Chef Louis. Ensemble: Ryan DeSacia, Emelia Errico, Malia Fiorta, Declan Forcier, Evan Muench, Mackena Pashley, Ainsley Stone, and Alexis Thayer. Scenic design by Benny Pitt. Lighting design by David Heguy. Costume design by Danica Martino. Properties design by Casey Martiano. Sound design by Ray Stokes. Musical direction by Jake Goodman. Choreography and musical staging by AshleySimone Kirchner. Associate choreographer: Alexis Papaleo. Dance captain: Emelia Errico.

Performances are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and Saturday and Friday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for seniors 65 and up, and $20 for students with ID or 18 and under. Runs approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Recommended for all ages. Tickets are available online at https://www.thecohoesmusichall.org/events/littlemermaid/2025 by phone at 518-434-0776, or at the door for any performance.