Seeing a show at Kitsap Forest Theater is not just good entertainment, it’s a wonderful summer adventure for the whole family. An endearing story about following your dreams, a magical setting among the trees, and a delightful cast join together to produce a musical experience you won’t soon forget. The Mountaineers proudly present The Little Mermaid for their summer show, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.
The Little Mermaid is a story that both children and parents will enjoy. Ariel asserts her individuality and her need to find her own place in the world. King Triton reminds us of the difficulties of balancing work and family, especially for a single parent. Sebastian shows us the lengths that true friends will go to help each other. Flounder reminds us of our first crush and how overwhelming those emotions can be. Scuttle demonstrates the power of creativity in making up your own words when you need to. The Mersisters offer a warning of the dangers of sibling rivalry. Ursula provides a warning of good deeds rapped with bad intentions. Being stuck on a single idea can blind you to new opportunities is the lesson offered by Prince Eric. And dear Chef Louis reminds us to use salt, “because it makes things delicious.”
Everyone knows the music from The Little Mermaid. The stage version of the story contains all the classics plus a few more. The musical moments are definitely some of the highlights of the show. From top to bottom, the cast is spectacular, and in some cases, such as Flounder played by Coleman Hunter, will blow you away. The big group numbers such as "Under the Sea" are full of delightful surprises. The action moves all over the stage, but keep your eyes on the little kids in the crustacean band as they provide some great comedic moments in the song. Adults also get a treat of a wonderfully staged Matrix moment in the great crab chase scene, magically performed by Jonathan Fowles (Sebastian) and Lance Valdez (Chef Louis). For sheer beauty nothing can beat the movement and music of "Kiss the Girl." A tip of the hat goes to Molly Hall, choreographer, and Benjamin Bentler for marrying the two so magically. Even when she has no voice, Ariel, played by Anna Vizzare will capture your eyes. Her expressions are spot-on and can tell the whole story with or without her magical voice.
Creating a show set under the sea in the middle of the forest is no small feat. Andrew Coopman, the show’s director, jumped at the chance and turned every obstacle into opportunity. A relatively new face on the Seattle directorial scene, Coopman’s delivery of a top-notch show demonstrates that he is “young, scrappy, and hungry.” The set design by George Pledger provides vignettes for different areas that are just enough to set the mood and provide beautiful backdrops without creating too many moving parts that could detract from the action. Kids will easily be able to associate the seashell with Ariel’s grotto and the giant pillars with Prince Eric’s castle. The costuming of the show takes the visual appeal right over the top. Misha Perritt pulled out all the stops, all the tulle, all the organza, all the seashells and everything else to create an amazing display of costumes for each and every character. The iridescent fins of the angelfish were simply spectacular with the way they moved and glided through the air.
During intermission, I asked the five-year-old girl sitting next to me what she thought of Ursula. Her eyes got big as she responded, “she was so good.” She then quickly added, “I mean bad. I mean she was so good at being bad.” Well I couldn’t have said it better myself. Ursula, played by Natasha Chen, is wonderfully wicked. With just the right amount of evil mixed with a playful presence in a masterpiece of a costume worthy of a Met Gala, Ursula makes the most of every moment she has on stage. Her undulating movements mimicked by her eels, Jetsam and Flotsam, played by John Han and Morgan Pullom respectively, make you feel as if they are really moving through the water. No worries of this seawitch scaring the young ones in the audience.
The Little Mermaid is a story that has delighted both young and old alike for generations. While it may seem to be a simple love story on the surface, if you look closely “under the sea,” you will find nuggets of great truths. Ariel’s struggle to get her father to see her point of view is a reality every parent of a teenager can understand, myself included. However, the evolution of their relationship is what takes the story to another level. In a quiet moment at the end of the show, Prince Eric asks King Triton for Ariel’s hand in marriage. When Triton responds that Ariel can speak for herself, I crossed my fingers and hoped that every little girl in the audience heard that bit. In an age with far too few strong roles for women and girls, Ariel’s triumph in winning her right to speak for herself is a big deal.
Undoubtedly, one of the things that set KFT apart is what happens at the end of the show. The audience is invited to come down to the stage and meet the cast. This is not the formal five minutes of autographs offered by some theaters, this is a full on meet and greet. Reminiscent of scenes at Disney World, Ariel and Ursula were virtually holding court surrounded by little ones, taking pictures, answering questions, and letting the young ones touch their costumes. These are the moments that both the kids and parents will treasure for many moons to come.
The Little Mermaid is a full-length musical show. The run time is approximately two hours and twenty minutes which includes a ten minute intermission. While this may seem long for little ones, there is no better place to test a full-length show than KFT. The stadium seats are steep and deep, and that means that everyone can see the stage easily. If your little one likes or needs to wiggle, there is a section called The Little Fern Sanctuary just for them. Here they can still see the show, but move around without obstructing the view of other audience members. The special section also includes tubs of quiet toys that audience members are welcome to use as needed. And there are snacks! Concessions are located both above at the beginning of the trail and down below at the top of the theater. Audience members are also welcome to bring their own treats and drinks. The seats are built into the hillside, so bringing your own stadium seats or blanket is a great idea. The theater has a limited number of cushions available to rent. All shows are at 2pm at which time the middle of the theater can be in full sun. Most other seats are in shade or dappled light, and all seats are shaded less than an hour into the show.
Kitsap Forest Theater is first and foremost a great theatrical experience, but if you have time, you should take advantage of this magical location and make a full day of it. The theater is nestled in the 460-acre Rhododendron Preserve. Even if you are not up for serious hiking, you can learn more about the preserve by visiting the Kitsap Yurt which houses photos and information about the preserve. Additionally, the entrance to the trail to the theater features giant display boards with photos and history of the Mountaineers Players. The Mountaineers have been performing in the same forest-canopied spot since 1923. Even if you’re not a vintage photography buff, you will appreciate the photos from the old shows.
Finally, if you plan your day right, you won’t want to miss the Big Tree Trail. The trailhead is located up at the entrance, near the restrooms and Kitsap Yurt, not down by the theater. The trail is about ½ mile long and leads to one of the ten largest Douglas Fir trees in the world. The hike also includes a bridge over Wildcat Creek and magnificent flora and fauna such as blooming trillium, rhododendrons of course, and various other native trees and plants. Don’t be surprised if you find ferns taller than your children! Please note that parts of the trail are steep, so be prepared to help little ones, and everyone should wear comfortable, close-toed shoes that are appropriate for hiking.
You can reach the Kitsap Forest Theater by the Bremerton Ferry, the Edmonds Ferry or by driving around through Tacoma. For ferries, it is best to be early. There are also picnic tables at KFT if you want to come extra early and eat lunch before the show. The trail to the theater opens at 1pm, and all seats are general admission. Parking at KFT is tight. So if you are cutting it close, you may have to park across the street, but there is a flagger to stop traffic for you. The trail down to the theatre is a leisurely ten-minute walk. Along the way, the trail is decorated with little scenes from the show. Ariel’s grotto seems to cause the most and longest pauses as many little ones wanted to check out each gadget, gizmo and thingamabob. Adding a little extra buffer time is always a good idea, because you won’t want to miss a moment of this show. The Little Mermaid at Kitsap Forest Theater is simply the best thing under the sea and under the trees in Seattle this summer.
Kitsap Forest Theater
3000 Seabeck Hwy, Bremerton
August 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 @ 2pm
Adults $18; Seniors, Students, & Military $16; Youth (6-12) $10; under 6 is free
Additional $2 per ticket when purchased at the door.
Tickets can be exchanged for any show, but not refunded.
foresttheater.com; 800-521-6000; tickets@foresttheater.com
Kelly Rogers Flynt is a freelance writer based out of Lake Forest Park and the mother of two children, ages 15 and 12 that always enjoy a good story in the forest.
