Review: Unfortunate – The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch at The Lowry ‘will have you ugly laughing’

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is as incredible as last year.

This time last year, I was lucky enough to review it last year and it was incredible then, so you can imagine my excitement for this time around.

There are two new cast members, Shawna Hamic (CO Virginia ‘Ginger’ Copeland in Orange is the New Black) as Ursula and River Medway (RuPual’s Drag Race UK) as Ariel.

The atmosphere is something incredible, you have to see it to believe it.

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch review

Everyone’s got their drink of choice and there is a buzz in the area. You can tell that this show is one people have been waiting for. (I certainly was).

We got there rather early, and we could see the buzz escalate.

We got to our seats and watched the theatre fill up. I was told that this was a sold-out show and there is a waiting list.

The Lowry – packed to the rafters

There wasn’t an empty seat in sight.

The set had changed quite a bit but not in a bad way. It now looked like the deck of a ship, Prince Eric’s ship.

There was a big round hole at the bottom that has doors that open when characters enter and leave.

They used different coloured lights and smoke to show Ursula’s magic powers.

Abby Clarke does a wonderful job at creating a mysterious atmosphere while still having space for multiple use.

The outstanding Shawna Hamic

Shawna Hamic is new to me as I’ve never seen Orange is the New Black by my oh my, she’s astounding. Her voice travels through the smaller theatre here at The Lowry.

The second she walked on; she got a massive cheer. She commands the audience with her sharp wit that Ursula so famously has, and with her attitude.

Which isn’t very easy to act, but she pulls it off because she drips with attitude and sass. She is Ursula.

River Medway has the audience is a fit of giggles.

There is not a quiet moment when they are on stage.

They got the biggest laugh when they sang their parody of Part of Your World, and if you go and see it, you’ll understand. It’s the song I was waiting for because of how silly and funny it is.

The wigs were incredible, but Medway’s was out of this world gorgeous. It’s a beautiful red that brings Ariel’s eye-popping red hair to life. Nicola Thorp is to congratulate for that.

Allie Dart was Ursula the last time I watched Unfortunate back in September, and this time she was playing many different characters, and every single one of them left a mark.

She changes from many accents within a couple of minutes a scene and she pulls it off effortlessly. I know I would have been out of breath, but she wasn’t and it’s something to definitely applaud.

My favourite was one of Ursula’s eels that she plays alongside Jack Gray.

There is a moment when she goes down three steps in time, on her bottom, with her lines. It was perfectly timed and executed. Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch will have you ugly laughing
and crying tears of joy.

It’s a wonderful show worth seeing!

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch tickets

Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch is on at The Lowry from Thursday 22nd February – Sat 2nd March.

You can get tickets by clicking here