• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Edinburgh Fringe 2019
Unfortunate Fat Rascal Theatre

Unfortunate Fat Rascal Theatre

Edinburgh Review: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch A Musical Parody at Underbelly Bristo Square

by Greg Stewart
August 9, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read

For full disclosure The Little Mermaid is probably my most beloved Disney film of all time, and Ursula the Sea Witch my favourite of all the Disney villains, so one thing was for sure, I was either going to absolutely love, or absolutely hate Fat Rascal’s latest comedy musical offering Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch.

Just as Wicked tells the story of the Wicked Witch from a different perspective, Unfortunate gives us the story of Ursula that Disney didn’t tell us.  Like how twenty years before Ariel wanted to see ‘em dancin’ Ursula was poised to marry King Triton, until she was falsely accused of a crime and banished from Atlantica.

Back to Ariel, who in Fat Rascal’s re-imagining is the kind of vacuous, looks-obsessed teenager you can expect to find on any series of Love Island, and we discover that Ursula is trying to help the mer-princess rather than harbouring any malicious intent.

       

Unfortunate is wickedly funny, and the audience are laughing from start to finish.  A comedy score that’s damn near perfection means that this musical never misses a beat. Robyn Grant plays Ursula like a 1950’s movie star vamp, while Katie Well’s Ariel will have you creased in two with a hilarious performance.

Allie Munro’s Sebastian (who is now Irish) is equally as funny, and Steffan Rizzi gives us an exceptional King Triton, as well as a delightful Scuttle.  Jamie Mawson once again shows that he can turn his hand to any role, playing a variety of characters with aplomb and demonstrating outstanding vocals.

You mightalso like

HELP We Are Still Alive Elijah Ferreira and Jade Johnson Photo by Danny Kaan

First Look: Help! We Are Still Alive at Seven Dials Playhouse

Help We Are Still Alive credit Danny Kaan

Help! We Are Still Alive to Open at Seven Dials Playhouse

This may very well be a comedy musical, but it very cleverly weaves in some important themes, Ursula is an outcast and is ridiculed for the way she looks.  It’s comments on society do not go unnoticed and there’s a sense that Fat Rascal have truly outdone themselves here, it is their best work to date without a doubt.

There’s nothing fishy about this tale, Unfortunate is a magnificent piece of musical theatre.  An incredible score, plenty of laughs and cast that clearly loves the work they are producing.  Fat Rascal have already garnered an impressive reputation, but this may just be the musical that puts them firmly on the map.

Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

HELP We Are Still Alive Elijah Ferreira and Jade Johnson Photo by Danny Kaan
First Look

First Look: Help! We Are Still Alive at Seven Dials Playhouse

Help We Are Still Alive credit Danny Kaan
News

Help! We Are Still Alive to Open at Seven Dials Playhouse

Seven Dials Playhouse courtesy of the venue
News

Seven Dials Playhouse Announces Help! We Are Still Alive and Daddy Issues for Autumn Season

Unfortunate at Underbelly Credit Craig Sugden
Reviews

Review: Unfortunate The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch at Underbelly Earl’s Court

Elliotte Williams- N’Dure
Interviews

Interview: Elliotte Williams- N’Dure on Playing Ursula in Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch

Unfortunate in Rehearsal credit Nick Rutter
First Look

First Look: Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch in Rehearsal

Comments 3

  1. Pingback: Underbelly Festival Announces London Summer Programme For 2022 - Theatre Weekly
  2. Pingback: Interview: Elliotte Williams- N’Dure on Playing Ursula in Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch - Theatre Weekly
  3. Pingback: Review: Unfortunate The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch at Underbelly Earl's Court - Theatre Weekly

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Stage Awards 2023 Photo c Alex Brenner Deidre OHalloran Lynette Linton Lauren Clancy Nikita Karia. Bush Theatre.jpg

The Stage Awards 2023 Winners Announced with Belfast Lyric and London’s Bush named theatres of the year

Welcome Home credit Harry Elletson

First Look: Welcome Home at Soho Theatre

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • Vault Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly