In the programme notes to ‘Unfortunate – The Untold Story Of Ursula The Sea Witch’ the authors describe the outcome of their efforts as a “glorious monstrosity” although during an interval chat with other theatre goers we settled on the single word “mesmeric”.
In reality it is both and much more, a deliciously camp musical parody derived from Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ with all pretence of childhood innocence guillotined.
This is crude, in your face, diabolically outrageous high energy, turbo charged queerness that is loud, joyful, and rammed with great music and uproarious one-liners, few if any of the latter suitable for re telling here and definitely not to those of a nervous disposition.
The end bit they encourage you to video and share – why not then lol https://t.co/Y2hQ4Cfrjj pic.twitter.com/z0vil0jvSw
— John Elworthy (@johnelworthy) April 16, 2024
Try telling your family and friends that the third song in is ‘Sucking On You’ and not long afterwards comes that splendid destroyer of wholesomeness ‘Where The Dicks Are’ and you begin to appreciate where this show might be heading.
But from little acorns, might oak trees grow and so it seems, with Unfortunate, first enjoying a sell out run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2022 to a fully fledged touring production.
Broadway star Shawna Hamic is Ursula the sea witch and is simply majestic, electrifying the audience at the New Theatre, Peterborough, last night where the show runs until Saturday.
Her comic timing and risqué one-liners are wondrous as she creates some semblance of a plot in settling a broken promise of marriage to a prince and spends 20 years plotting revenge from the depths of the sea. Her performance is hypnotising and unforgettable.
Part of the show’s widespread appeal owes much to the popularity among all audiences of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and so it was for such aficionados a joy to behold River Medway as Ariel, whose sexual desires, inclinations, and fantasies are probably best not publicly aired.
Unfortunate whilst not exactly breaking the mould of main stream provincial theatre, brings together high octave talent, some stunning musical numbers, and a wickedly mischievous production.
Think panto on steroids and you come somewhat nearer to understanding what to expect; can can dancing, ventriloquism, puppetry, and aerial acrobatics enhance a mind-boggling foray into musical theatre.
Those who remember Mary Whitehouse with fondness won’t appreciate its risqué humour and approach.
But those of us old enough, mature enough, open minded enough, queer enough, or any mixture of the aforesaid, will be fortunate indeed to spend an evening at Unfortunate.
UNFORTUNATE – THE UNTOLD STORY OF URSULA THE SEA WITCH; WED 17 – SAT 20 APRIL, NEW THEATRE, PETERBOROUGH.
