The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon – Analog Artist Digital World

I had sketched a rehearsal of The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon written and directed by Christian Kelty. I was happy I then got a chance to see the production live at Stonewall Bar Orlando (741 W Church St, Orlando, Florida 32805.) Karaoke was going on downstairs and I had to ask the bar maid where I could find the Merman. She directed me to the upstairs bar. I ordered a beer and started sketching the bar and a palm tree covered swamp scene which I assumed was the backdrop for the adventure to follow. I met someone I had sketched meditating at Veg Fest. I am always happy when people introduce themselves since I tend to blend into the woodwork as I sketch.

A three piece band was set up complete with a theremin which is that science-fiction sounding instrument that is played by just waving our hands over it. The slithering sound began and the show began. The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon is a mash up of the 1950s horror film Creature from the Black Lagoon and the Disney animated classic The Little Mermaid. The discovery of an aquatic human hand lead researchers, Julie (Jenn Gannon) and Richard (Scottie Campbell) to explore the Black Lagoon thanks to the funding of (Timmy Walczak) who was the chauvinistic financial backer of the trip. The boat’s captain, navigated the treacherous waters thanks to a boat wheel that thrust out of his pelvis like a phallus.

At rehearsal I had only seen the first half of the show. I was shocked by how the violent conclusion of the show. The Merman eventually got his legs but had to give up his voice. That resulted in a huge monster of a green man who sounded like the Frankenstein monster. He was truly menacing when he grunted and his long awaited interactions with humans didn’t go as he had imagined.

The staging was tight being between two rows of patrons seated at the bar and along the windows. But the cast used this narrow walkway of a stage to great advantage. The folks across from me where smiling ear to ear and so was I. This was a fun premise and very entertaining.

The show run had been completed, but there is one more encore performance happening on Sunday May 5, 2019 at 1pm at Stonewall Bar Orlando (741 W Church St, Orlando, Florida 32805.)

Tickets are:

$20 in advance

$25 at the door

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Seating is extremely limited for each show.

Written and directed by Christian Kelty, The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon is a mash up of the 1950’s horror film and a classic cartoon fairy tale. A group of scientists travel the Amazon in search of the legendary “Gill-Man,” and come face to face with Ethyl the Merman and his friends from “under the lagoon”. Christain himself took on the role of the Merman who is curious about life with legs.

Julie (Jenn Gannon) and Richard (Scottie Campbell) were the scientist couple who discovered a merman’s hand and wanted to find the evolutionary missing link. Salty was the captain who steered their course with a tiny ship wheel that conveniently thrust out from his groin. The fourth member on the expedition (Timmy Walczak) was the chauvinistic financial backer of the trip. He was always putting Richard down and jockeying for dominance. He was most comfortable when holding a weapon. He wasn’t interested in research but in manly trophies.

A second story line developed under the lagoon, with the Little Merman, Ethyl, collecting human art and trinkets and arguing with his father. Butch a jerk of a shrimp acted as his conscience, siding with is father’s wishes while Angie the angler fish encouraged the merman’s more refined and creative wishes with his counsel. The Merman sang much of Part of your World with lyrics reflecting the idea that though life above water has its problems it has to be better than life in the lagoon. Certainly up there they don’t reprimand their sons.

I didn’t get to see the entirety of the show in this rehearsal but I have to believe that the Merman will one day walk on two legs and I suspect he will meet the researchers. The chauvinist, using a harpoon forced Salty to turn the boat around. I liked the staging of this scene because the actors rotated around Salty as the boat turned making it seem like we all were turning with them. I don’t know what path followed. I’ll have to see the show to find out.

Later that day I was taking to Pam Schwartz about the names of the characters of the show. ‘When I am lost in sketching, I don’t always catch such details. She explained that the Merman was named Ethyl. What a strange name for a merman we both thought and then the light bulb went off for us both. Oooooo. Ethyl Merman was a huge Broadway star. There is no business like show business!

Original Art and Set Design by Alexa Busnot and Sam Hazell

Original Puppets Designed and created by David Jordan

Original Score by Atif Shariff

PERFORMANCES DATES-

Fri 4/5/2019 6:30pm doors – 7pm Show

Sun 4/7/2019 12:30pm doors- 1pm Show

Thu 4/11/2019 7:30pm doors- 8pm Show

Sun 4/14/2019 12pm doors- 1pm Show

Thu 4/18/2019 7:30pm doors- 8pm Show

Fri 4/19/2019 6:30pm doors- 7pm Show

Mon 4/22/2019 8:30pm doors- 9pm Show (Industry Night)

Thu 4/25/2019 8:30pm doors- 9pm Show

Tickets are:

$20 in advance

$25 at the door

$10 for Monday APRIL 22nd

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Seating is extremely limited for each show.

The performances will take place in the upstairs bar Stonewall Bar Orlando (741 W Church St, Orlando, Florida 32805.)