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A woman doesn’t know how precious her voice is until she’s been silenced…

~Ursula, The Little Mermaid  on Broadway

It’s a good quote right?  Say what you want about the show being “bloated” or “less than witty” …critics’ words, not mine.

Personally, I thought it was cute.  No, it wasn’t groundbreaking theater, and I believe it could have been.  But it was cute, and Disney, and that’s nice sometimes, but this isn’t a review.

I have a bone to pick with an old friend…but first, a love letter for them, my Muny.

The Muny is why I love theater.  Located in St. Louis, MO, it’s the world’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theater.

I was five the first time I experienced live musical theater.  The show was Peter Pan.

Of course, by this point, I’d already seen the Mary Martin version of Peter Pan and was well on my way to theater “dorkdom”, but I’ll never forget the magic of that first show.

Of course we’ve had our rough patches (you know what you did with Grease), but the Muny is where I learned theater.  It made me the musical encyclopedia that I am today.

We live in Chicago now, but the Crusaders still make it to one or two shows a season.  I can’t imagine a summer without the Muny.  It’s an impossibility.

Which brings me to a tough conversation…I think bullet points will help.

The Show: The Muny Production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid

The Role: Ursula

The Casting: it doesn’t matter who he is, the point is a man was cast in this role

The Problem:  I get it.  I do.  You were putting your stamp on it.  I admit I was initially confused and angry.

In truth, I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I saw the cast list.

Then I came around to the idea and was sort of excited that you’d made a bold choice with your production.

Then I saw the show.  The quoted portion from above almost made me fall out of my chair.

Was it supposed to be ironic?

The show was so male heavy I could hardly believe it.  Ariel and Flounder were the only principals played by women (and adorable girls…loved Flounder).  That left us with Eric, Triton, Sebastian, Scuttle, Ursula, Flotsam, and Jetsam all played by men.  Throw in Grimsby and Chef Louis and it’s a sea-worthy boys club.

In a show called The Little Mermaid, you’d think there’d be more girls.

I studied theater and I know that female roles are in the minority as is.  So to take a rather fabulous one and give it to a man is baffling to me.

This is not a comment on his performance, he was fine, and kudos on the make-up and wig.  He can’t help that the part was written for a woman.

My problem isn’t with a man playing a woman.  I know it’s been done, and it has worked, but I need a reason for it.  There has to be a point.  I didn’t see it.

What I did love about the show is that it empowers Ariel, even if it is a rushed empowerment.  She saves herself.

Why couldn’t you have saved this role for a woman?

I’ve said my piece.  I hope we can still be friends.

Now, speaking of overlooked women.  The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team is playing for the World Cup today.  You should be watching.

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…bi-daily smile…