Upstaged rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Megan Hyland
Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx’s Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is a joyous celebration of nastiness. With vibrant, lyrical music and clever, quick-witted humour, this is the story of our favourite Disney villain as you’ve never seen her before – but definitely wish you had; a tale of scandal, sex, and sorcery that you won’t want to miss.
The role of Ursula – originally played by Elliotte Williams-N’Dure – was passed to understudy, Allie Dart; who was given just one day to rehearse the role before last night’s performance. And what a performance it was! Dart was outstanding, slipping effortlessly into this epic role and delivering the performance of a lifetime. It’s hard to believe that she had so little time to rehearse, as she belted out Grant and Foxx’s songs with such passion and skill.
Dart perfectly embodied Ursula, bringing with her all of the character’s complexity; attitude; and sensuality. She commanded the stage with expert comedic timing and had the audience gripped in her tentacles from the moment she appeared. There could not have been anyone more suited to step up to the plate; and although Dart is no newcomer to the stage, it felt as though last night was the birth of a star.
Dart starred alongside George Whitty as the principled King Triton, whose breath-taking vocals filled the stage and left the audience in awe. His chemistry with Dart was undeniable and yet another testament to an extremely talented cast who had such little time to turn things around for this performance, yet delivered something truly outstanding.
Jamie Mawson played the roles of Eric and King Neptune; deservedly receiving some of the biggest laughs of the night. Whether it was his booming, theatrical voice as the eccentric King Neptune; or his campy portrayal of pompous Prince Eric, Mawson was consistently hilarious and consistently wonderful.
With their writing and lyrics, Robyn Grant and Daniel Foxx have created a truly beautiful piece of storytelling in Unfortunate. Alongside Tim Gilvin working on music, arrangements, and orchestrations; they are able to deliver music that is fun, intentional, and ultimately unforgettable; combining parody versions of our favourite Little Mermaid classics with original songs that still feel familiar and fitting. But be warned – while it may be based on a children’s classic, Unfortunate is far from a family-friendly musical. It is fantastically filthy, and far from being suggestive; just like Ursula herself, Unfortunate says it how it is.
It is impossible to praise Unfortunate without mentioning the fantastic efforts of the crew behind it. Abby Clarke’s sensational set design exemplifies Ursula, with magnificent towering tentacles and glittering cascading sheets that make you feel as though you really are under the sea. What she and lighting designer Douglas Kuhrt have been able to create with such minimal set pieces is truly outstanding and visually striking. Melody Sinclair’s choreography also deserves a nod for how it allows the cast to truly embody their characters and the music.
Whether you’re a fan of the Little Mermaid or not, Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch offers something for everyone; catchy original songs, a cast with impeccable talent and a story that is bound to shiver your timbers.
-Megan Hyland
Unfortunate runs at The Lowry, Salford until Saturday 10 September 2022.