Part of 'this' World 

Rachel Benton

Growing up as a choir person, I will never forget the words to the song “Part of that World” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” I remember countless moments when we came together and sang this song. We all loved music, and singing “Part of that World” was fun vocally and it reminded us of the dreams we had for our lives — it was our anthem.  

 My dream was always to have music be a big part of my life. As a young person, I thought of the art scene as a separate world, and I wondered if I would ever be “good enough” to join this world. Limited was my imagination and understanding of art’s place in this world.  

 Art is not a planet of its own, it exists right here on Earth and we all have access to it. Some of us might become artists or performers, but it is equally wonderful and fulfilling to sit in the audience.

These two groups exist together and rely on one another to keep creativity alive. I no longer feel a sense of exclusion or that I need to train up in order to be part of “that” world because I am already in it — part of “this” world.  

 All of these ideas came together in my heart, as I enjoyed Black Hills High School’s (BHHS) production of “The Little Mermaid.” My experience in the audience of this production felt like the perfect elixir of joy, nostalgia and introspection. This elixir acted like a medicine to my healing past. Let me take you through my journey.

 Review of “The Little Mermaid” 

 Watching this performance, I really admired each actor’s energy and passion about their role. The cast is made up of young people who range in stage and lived experiences, yet they all worked together very well.

I enjoyed seeing when each performer was caught up in their moment on stage and completely forgot about the idea of pleasing the audience or looking cool among their peers. I think there might be a lesson in there for all of us.  

 Just as the night sky is full of shining stars, so was this cast, and just as stargazers draw their attention to specific stars, so my attention was drawn to a few different members of the cast: Sebastain, Ursula, and the one member of the ensemble who’s excitement and joy was contagious. 

 Equally contagious was the enthusiasm of the audience members. Sitting in front of me were Prince Eric’s parents, and I found myself watching their faces grow with pride and tearing up when they did. At one point, Prince Eric’s dad clapped to himself after his son nailed part of his solo … what a tearjerking and lovely moment to witness. 

Speaking of Prince Eric, I appreciated how this production gave me an appreciation of this classic Disney prince. To be honest, I always thought the character of “Prince Eric”was really one note, but through this young actor, I learned that “dance is like a conversation and that we are one step closer to being understood.” We all want to be understood, and now I understand that Prince Eric does have depth and maybe a touch of loneliness. None of us are what we seem.  

 Ariel is very brave, as is the actress who played her and gave all her energy to every note of her songs. I never realized how brave and gutsy it is to risk the rest of your life for a three-day window to pursue your dreams.

I used to roll my eyes thinking that she risked all of this for a guy, it felt very hormonal like Romeo and Juliet. Now I realize that, yes, she did it for Eric, but she also had wanted to be “where the people are” for as long as she started collecting “gadgets and gizmos aplenty.” May we have the same gumption as Ariel to pursue our dreams. 

 When fighting with her dad about the humans, Ariel says something to the point of, “I don’t want to hate all the humans just because a few of them are wicked.” That is a message our society needs now more than ever.  

 “The Little Mermaid” spoke to me in the ways mentioned above, but maybe it has another message for you. Maybe the same or different stars will stand out to you and make you smile. I know one way you can find out.  

 Buy your ticket here.