After the theater troupe’s three performances of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, with one show Oct. 27 and two Oct. 28, several troupe members expressed that they thought the show went nicely.

“I think everyone had a lot of energy and was really excited,” senior Lillian Goodman, who played Ursula, said. “Everyone looked so good, and everyone was having fun. That’s what’s so important.”

The crowds for all three shows were nearly full, adding to the positivity of the troupe, according to freshman Paxton Barefield, who played Prince Eric.

“Everything’s so worth it when you do everything right and the audience applauds,” Barefield said. “That’s the magical moment.”

There were some difficulties that the troupe faced during the first show, Goodman said she thought it went well.

“There’s a lot of pressure on opening night,” Goodman said. “You don’t have the experience of doing a previous run-through of the show. I missed a couple lines, and some wigs flew, but I think that was just because there was so much positive energy.”

The tech crew also dealt with several challenges throughout opening night.

“The first act was flawless, impeccable, showstopping, the second act was good, but then the mic tape wasn’t working,” junior Scarlett Edammudalige, a member of the tech crew, said. “Then the mics weren’t working, then the wig fell off, then the wig fell off again, and the dresses weren’t dressing. It was just a lot.”

The Little Mermaid was the first West Shore production that Caroline Miller, the new head of the theater department, directed.

“It definitely taught me a lot, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle or figure out a solution for,” Miller said. “There are a few changes I’ll make for future productions; I want to have kids be more responsible and take accountability. But overall, I think the show went well.”

By Cora Pearson