A SIGHT TO ‘SEA’ IN THEATRE DEPT.

We’ve all seen Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at some point in our lives, but I doubt you’ve ever seen anything quite like MHCC’s Performing Arts children’s production of the namesake play, written by Katherine Schultz Miller.

Following several special showings for area schoolchildren, Mt. Hood invites a general audience to come see “The Little Mermaid” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in the College Theatre.

Miller’s version actually tracks the original story, before Disney adapted it into an animated film. You’ll be surprised to know that the little mermaid herself isn’t originally named Ariel; the name in this play is Annabelle. There are many other fun characters in this children’s play that aren’t in the Disney movie version, as well.

I went to see the production mid-morning on Nov. 9 along with hundreds of children from various grade schools in the Portland area.  This was one of the six performances scheduled for school groups.

Excitement filled the room as the show finally began to start. The stage lit up and I was stunned by the magnificent set – colorful strings and cloth hung down from the rafters and were strapped to the ground, giving the illusion of seaweed rising up from the ocean floor. Then out came the actors, dressed in black, using puppets of various sea creatures to make it feel like we all were actually under the sea.

Laughter and the roaring sound of little hands clapping filled the theatre after each scene. The set and costume changes were expertly done and, unknown to the audience, many of the puppet fishes in the sea also portray the humans on land.

After the show, all the children got to say hello to the actors on the way back to their school buses, and I had a chance to speak with Mace Archer, MHCC’s Performing Arts director.

Archer explained that he has produced a children’s production by the same playwright, Miller, for the six years he has been at MHCC. He chooses the plays for the season a year in advance to secure the rights and to get the word out to any student who might be interested in being a part of the show.

Rehearsals for the play start the first day of Fall Term classes at MHCC in September, unlike normal productions where actors would audition beforehand. To get into the children’s show, all anyone must do is sign up for the class: (Children’s) Theatre Workshop (TA153D).

Anyone is welcome to be apart of the process of putting together these children’s shows. Even those with little-to-no experience will have a fun time doing it, Archer noted.

If you’re looking for a high-quality theater production and a fun time for children, “The Little Mermaid” has its only showing for public audiences on Saturday. Tickets are all $2 and the runtime is 40 minutes.

Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out for MHCC’s upcoming winter production, the well-known musical “The Music Man.” For more information or advance ticket sales call 503-491-7154, or see mhcc.edu/theatreboxoffice.