‘Diving in deep’: Expect the unexpected with Riverview’s ‘The Little Mermaid’

As they say, expect the unexpected.

Actually, the Riverview High School spring musical’s director did mention just that as he described preparations for upcoming performances of “The Little Mermaid.”

“We want the ‘wow’ factor, and that’s what we go for,” JohnPaul Bertucci said. “We plan on diving in deep with our concept with the dramatics, so that when you come to our show, it’s not a high school show. We try to take it to a new level and get these kids really grounded in their roles, and then add the lighting, and then add all the pizzazz.”

He and his charges — about 70 students in the cast and crew — are looking forward to staging the production for a packed house at Riverview’s Tenth Street Auditorium in Oakmont, an occurrence that had not been possible since 2019.

The musical scheduled for the following year, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” had to be scratched at the onset of the covid pandemic. And in 2021, “Pippin” was staged for a select few people in person, plus it went out live online.

“Our school is so fortunate to even have a program last year for us to perform,” said sophomore Georgia Tsambis, who returns this year to play Scuttle the seagull. “But having a full audience is a huge difference, because the reaction, as an actor, is something that keeps you going onstage. One of the things that theater people live for is really making people smile and performing for them.”

In a production full of memorable musical numbers, probably the most enduring is “Under the Sea,” led by Sebastian the crab. Portraying him is Johnny — yes, he’s the director’s son — Bertucci.

“Sebatian’s a pretty fun role to play because he’s all over the place. He has all these emotions throughout the whole show,” the Riverview freshman said, expressing his excitement about the musical’s four-day run. “We’re selling all these tickets, and it’s going to be fun having a big audience, especially with some of the lines I have, making people clap and laugh.”

He joins Christian Palochik, who plays Prince Eric, as one of the many returning cast members from “Pippin,” in which he had the similarly royal-sounding role of King Charlemagne.

“I really learned a lot doing that, and it’s definitely helped me this year,” Christian said. “I love the connections that I’ve made with people. You really feel like you’re part of a family whenever you do it. It is demanding, but it pays off in the end with the show.”

Producer Alex DiClaudio agreed.

“We thought for our first jump back in with a live audience, we would do something big, lots of spectacle and something for the kids,” he said, and because of the pandemic. “We think a lot of the kids who are going to be here will have never seen a live stage show before in their lives.”

And with regard to expecting the unexpected, a certain aspect of “The Little Mermaid” is sworn to secrecy until opening night.

“It’s going to be a really cool surprise. It’s something that not a lot of schools are doing,” DiClaudio said. “It’s taken a lot of work, but I think it’s going to be very impactful.”

“The Little Mermaid” is scheduled from March 31 through April 2 at Tenth Street Auditorium, 901 Pennsylvania Ave., Oakmont. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.rsd.k12.pa.us/Musical.