ARCHBOLD WEATHER

ACT Production Of “Little Mermaid Jr.” A Fun Show




The Archbold Community Theatre production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” which concluded last weekend, proved to be a winner.

ACT offers one show each year by children, for children. A quick glance at the cast biographies showed the actors ranged from first graders to high school freshmen.

Many of the youngsters in the show were already theatre veterans, and proved they have what it takes to be actors. Some had more than one role, serving as supporting cast. A few had four; one had five!

The lead, Ariel, was performed by Kate Nofziger, Archbold, who did an excellent job. As the lead, she spent a lot of time on stage, but never missed a beat.

Her brother William was cast as the comic relief seagull, Scuttle. He was outstanding, delivering his lines with a strong voice and flapping around the stage as a comic relief seagull should.

One particularly interesting character was Ursula, the sea witch, played by Autumn Owens, Bryan. She was very good at being very bad.

Her character has several long tentacles that are supposed to wriggle about underwater, where much of the play takes place. To make that happen, wherever Ursula went, a crowd of youngsters went with her, moving the tentacles. It was fun to watch.

Two other interesting characters were eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, played by Erin Reichert, Archbold, and Jensi Shaw, Pettisville. As the evil henchmen (henchpersons?) of Ursula, they lurked about the stage, and conned Ariel into accepting a favor from the sea witch.

Reichert and Shaw were required to deliver their lines while exaggerating “s” sounds, and they did a great job.

To evaluate a show for children, look for the children in the audience. Several were standing on their chairs so they could get a better view, and were in rapt fascination of the action on stage.

“The Little Mermaid” is known for upbeat Caribbean themed music. The ACT production was filled with those songs, and the young actors did a good job with them.

ACT kicks off the 2013- 14 season with the comedy, “Kids Say The Darndest Things,” based on the book by the same name written by Art Linkletter.

“Kids Say The Darndest Things” was a segment on Linkletter’s “House Party” TV show, which ran for 26 years.

ACT has set Dec. 6-7, 13- 14-15 at Giffey Hall in the Ridgeville Corners Theatre District for the comedy.–David Pugh



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