Gorham Middle School held three performances of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” during the weekend of March 10. The play, based on the Hans Christian Anderson story and Disney film, was directed by Greg Walton and Tana Krohn, with the help of technical expert Patti Joyce.
The show starred students of all middle school ages. For some of the cast, it was another performance on their long list of acting experience, while for others, this was their first time on stage. However, no matter their previous experience, each student demonstrated incredible talent.
Photo credit Chris DrewIt was no wonder Kate Dupuis was cast as the lead, Ariel. Dupuis embodied the carefree spirit of the mermaid and her amazing voice filled the auditorium in each of her solos. Emily Paruk starred as the villain of the classic story, Ursula. Paruk stepped onto the stage with confidence and delivered each song with complete sass, and her uncanny portrayal demanded the audience’s attention.
For Sierra Cummings, who played the infamous Sebastian, this was her tenth production, and her talent was obvious as she remained in character even while singing her difficult solo, “Under the Sea.” One character who had everyone in the audience laughing throughout was Scuttle the Seagull, played by Julia Yager.
Each student shone on stage, and the colorful costumes and set designs only added to the magic of the production and made everyone in the audience feel like they were a part of their world.
Photo credit Abbie vanLuling