Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr: Even the littlest audience members will be spellbound
Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr., Directed by Jake Tupu, at the Court Theatre, July 8.
REVIEW: It’s a long time since I saw Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo movie but my recollections of it are adventure, tragedy and jump-scare terror in equal measure.
So it was with mild trepidation I took a sensitive child to The Court Theatre’s Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. stage show for some school holiday entertainment.
I needn’t have given it a thought. What it delivered was a musical theatre experience that was exciting, funny, showcased young local talent and filled with subliminal messaging about bravery, friendship, love and – for parents – letting go.
The shimmering, ethereal set takes you into an ocean world, as the show opens with Nemo’s parents, Coral and Marlin, excited to be on the cusp of parenthood with 400 eggs about to hatch.
Like in several Disney stories, mum doesn’t last long, but in this version, it’s more of a vague disappearance than a frightening barracuda slaughter.
Regardless, dad finds himself bereft with only one precious egg and promising the Nemo inside: “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Fast-forward to the first day of school and Nemo is pumped. Dad is clingy.
Nemo is swiftly caught in a fishing net and lands up in a Sydney aquarium; dad meets Dory – as delightful in this show, as in the film – and their cross-ocean bid to find Nemo begins.
The storyline cracks a pace through songs, dancing, seagull gags, amusing one-liners and endearing characters, including a 150-year-old turtle who help guide Marlin and Dory into the east Australian current.
The great white shark is more hilarious than worrying, even when, right after a rendition of the Fish are Friends pledge to ‘50s style tap, it has a relapse and thirsts for fish. When that was over a kid near me piped up: “That was a cool bit.”
Meanwhile, over at 42 Wallaby Way in Sydney, Nemo and her new mates are hatching a plan to get back to the big old blue. Only one of them (hint: our heroine) will make it.
There’s character development on display with problem solving, self-belief and the big post-reunion leap for dad: When Nemo is back home and off to school yet again, he’s clingy no more. “Go and have an adventure,” he says.
It was all over in 50 minutes. It could have gone longer, as even the littlest of audience members were spellbound to the finish.
The cast of about 24 performers (there are two casts rotating the days) were clearly having the time of their lives. I was singing the show tune Big Blue World for the rest of the day.
And if you won’t take my word for it, take it from a couple of 5-year-olds: “I liked Nemo because she was brave.”
“I liked the stingray because it was floaty.”
Enough said.
Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. is at The Court Theatre from July 7-19, two shows most days at 11am and 1.30pm plus two 5.30pm shows. Tickets $10-$30 for children, $15-$35 for adults.
