This enchanting Christian Youth Theater production is based on Disney’s version of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, but with engaging new songs, some amusing new dialog, and just enough plot changes by Paul Russell to make it refreshingly different. Add to that a kettleful of some of the most vibrant, colorful, and imaginative costumes ever seen on land, sea, or air put together by Pam Hannon (including some very creatively designed mermaid tails, a wicked-looking sea witch with eight wicked-looking tentacles always surrounded by her sharks draped in dapper gangster suits, not to mention outlandish fish, crustaceans, and aquatic life of all kinds including – could that really be – SpongeBob Squarepants??? And behind this extraordinary menagerie is some gorgeous background art that makes you feel right at home down in the deep blue sea or feasting up in the royal dining room, all combining for a visually stunning treat!

Bringing all these wondrous creatures to life in these spectacular settings are some of the excellent actors from Christian Youth Theater under the direction of Desha Crownover. Brooke McKinney stars in the title role of Ariel, her beautiful voice singing joyfully with her excited sisters about The World Above before her fateful trip to the surface where she meets, and saves, and falls in love with the human Prince Eric (Alexander Stauffer), leading to their nice duet I’ll Know. She returns, singing longingly with her sisters that It Could Never Be, a thought propounded by father Neptune (Tom Hatfield) whose exquisite voice turns to rage at the very idea. But could it be after all??? A little help from the conniving sea witch Octavia (Maegan Cruse) makes it so it could be, but she doesn’t perform this service for free. Ariel’s got to get lover boy to kiss her before the sun sets on the third day, and first she’s got to give up her beautiful voice. Thus we sadly lose Brooke’s voice with Act One, but she still manages to charm as she awkwardly gets used to her “land legs” before trying to win Eric over with charades, facial expressions, and Body Language.

One character that definitely never stops talking is Marla Kramer as the hysterical Cha Cha – a Spanish-speaking, highly animated lobster who gets conscripted for the difficult but adventure-filled job of being Ariel’s mermaid-sitter. She turns her tail for a minute and next thing you know Ariel’s traded her fins for legs and is in danger of becoming Octavia’s eternal slave if she doesn’t kiss a human prince. Ay Caramba! Marla’s lively performance, personality, most of the best lines, and great comic timing enhance the show tremendously.

Henry Metcalf gets some good laughs as well as the obnoxiously amusing young Willem who does his princely best to drive poor Kavender (Austin Cesear) and the rest of the royal household up a royal wall. Some sinister sharks also amuse as they insist that Life Ain’t No Good Unless You’re Bad. Just ask Mumbles (Grant Tudor), a shark with a slight speech impediment that not even a magical sea witch can manage to understand.

Other great ensemble numbers include some dancing and singing sailors led by First Mate Jenny Parker. The second act includes several fantastic rhythms written by Paul Russell and Jon Lorenz. One with the castle servants musing over the new mute girl’s name, the groovy Come Back Down featuring Cha Cha and the mermaid sisters, and the big number bringing together Cha Cha, Ariel’s sisters, Pepe the parrot (Jenny Heigold), and all the sea creatures as they valiantly try to encourage Eric to Go Ahead and kiss the girl.