Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch has made a triumphant return to The Lowry. This is one show that certainly isn’t lost at sea, and I’m more than happy to take you on a deep dive into this riotous musical… I’ll stop with the ocean puns now. Promise.
Straight off the bat, this is a fantastic show. I saw the original run in 2022 and almost everything has levelled up. The cast are the beating heart and wicked soul of the production; every performer delivers in their various roles and each one gets a moment to shine. More importantly, they all made me laugh throughout!
Sam Buttery steps into the titular role of Ursula and absolutely revels in it. Witty, playful and effortlessly commanding, they bring a delicious energy to every moment on stage. For those familiar with The Little Mermaid, this retelling flips the narrative entirely, giving Ursula the focus she deserves. Think Wicked, but with far more innuendo and an even thicker layer of camp.
Miracle Chance is a delight as the wonderfully dim-witted Ariel: equal parts funny, absurd, and painfully relatable in her quest for a man. If Ursula is the embodiment of feminist power, Ariel is gleefully, deliberately the opposite. Blair Robertson brings full hunk-status to King Triton, while James Spence’s pretty-boy Prince Eric matches Ariel’s lack of brain cells beautifully.
I could wax lyrical for hours about how good this show is. I haven’t laughed this much in the theatre for a long time. To take material that almost everyone knows and turn it completely on its head—into something original, cheeky, and genuinely clever—is a triumph. The musical numbers are fabulous too, delivered with unapologetic gusto.
Don’t be a poor unfortunate soul and let this pass you by. It’s at The Lowry until 11 January, so there’s plenty of time to dive in.
By Dan Smith
For Canal Street Media