West Morris Central Theatre Proudly Announces Fall Production!

West Morris Central High School to present U.S. premiere of Polly Teale’s Mermaid on November 1-3

Beneath the ocean's waves there is no death or pain or separation. Above, the modern world is beset with war, poverty, and desire. On her sixteenth birthday, a mermaid rises to the surface, leaving her childhood behind when she falls in love with a mortal prince. She knows that she can no longer live at the bottom of the ocean, but must she destroy herself in order to be loved? The answer is sought out by a young girl named Blue, who composes a bold reimagining of The Little Mermaid from her bedroom in a remote seaside town of England. Polly Teale's Mermaid, which transports Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale to a contemporary setting, was first performed by Shared Experience and Nottingham Playhouse on a UK tour in 2015.

On November 1-3, West Morris Central High School’s theatre troupe, Central Theatre, will present its annual fall drama production. Last year’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime won Outstanding Overall Production at the Montclair State Theatre Night Awards.

Senior Grace Alai plays Blue, the young girl who identifies with the mermaids in her search for identity and in her effort to understand the world around her. Characterizing her confusion and thirst for knowledge about the human experience is senior Caitlin Reilly, playing the Little Mermaid as the metaphorical representation of Blue’s inner voice. Senior Lexi George plays Blue’s mother and Grandmer, the high matriarch of the merfolk. Junior Lars Olsen rounds out the principal cast as the Prince of England, who suffers from temporary amnesia and too ventures down his own path of self-discovery.

The cast boasts an additional 29 members, with many more students involved on theproduction team and crew. The director is theatre and English teacher, Mr. Jeff Hogan, withchoreography by junior and cast member Paige Davis.

On selecting this production, director Jeff Hogan says, “We had a lot of success last year by being the first high school in the tri-state area to perform both The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and The Pirate Queen. Polly Teale’s Mermaid has yet to find its way in the States. We are so excited to bring this highly relatable and socially relevant tale to our audiences.”

Regarding the rehearsal process, he comments, “It’s physically demanding on the actors’ bodies. We have to transport the audience’s imaginations to an underwater world through stylized movement and choreography. It should be unlike anything that has been done before on our stage, and quite beautiful to witness.”

Ticket information for Central Theatre’s Mermaid

Mermaid will be performed on the following dates and times:

Thursday, November 1 @ 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 2 @ 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 3 @ 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 3 @ 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices are $16 for reserved seats, $14 for general admission, and $12 for students.

All tickets are general admission and can be purchased at the door 30 minutes before

curtain.