PHOTO OF THE DAY: A LOOK BACK AT ‘THE LITTLE MERMAID JR.’
This week’s Publisher’s Column by Jeremy Waltner, with a photo gallery to follow:
When I think about high school theater productions, my mind takes me back to “Charlotte’s Web,” “Little Women,” “The Nerd” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” — four shows that introduced me to the stage when I was a student at Freeman Academy. My memories of these experiences are both strong and fond, particularly playing the part of Axel Hammond in Larry Shue’s “The Nerd” — which may be the funniest play out there — when I was a senior in 1994.
My involvement in theater continued after I returned to Freeman in 1999 through summer productions and Schmeckfest shows, and I eventually dipped by toes in waters of direction when I joined Will Ortman — my co-star in “The Nerd” — in taking on “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” for Schmeckfest 2010.
The world of theater remains one of my favorite places to go as an actor, director and audience member, and there’s no doubt my introduction to it in high school has a lot to do with that.
I thought about all of this as I took in three performances of Freeman High School’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” — the Friday matinee given to the student body and then both performances Friday and Saturday night.
Stacey texted me midway through matinee:
“I’m so curious how the show is!” she wrote.
“It’s an absolute delight!!!” was my response.
Admittedly, both of us had more interest in this musical than others because Ella and Oliver both played leads — Ella as Sebastian, the lovable crab tasked with keeping tabs on Ariel; and Oliver as Grimsby, Prince Eric’s reasonable sidekick who struggles with seasickness.
Furthermore, we knew many of the student-actors up there through their association with our kids. Ella and Oliver both took “The Little Mermaid Jr.” stage with close friends and athletic teammates with whom they have competed, and watching them act and sing together and engage with one another in a different kind of way was sweet. I occasionally glanced at Stacey as we enjoyed opening night from our front-row seats and noted her smile every time. It was a magical world, and we delighted in every moment of it.
Only a select few will continue to be involved in theater after they graduate from high school; after all, theatrical DNA isn’t in everybody. But there is no question that they will remember the time they were in “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” just as I remember my high school stage experiences. And I hope they remember it fondly. After all, for two nights inside the Freeman High School gym, the world outside fell away, and we were transported to a magical land where good wins and love prevails.
It was just what we needed.
