Bells sound as a group of convent school girls arrive at the seashore. One of the girls, a Princess—looking very much like Henriette—discovers the Prince. She tentatively wakes him. Believing the Princess to be one who saved him, the Prince seems to fall in love with her.
Sad and despondent, the little Mermaid witnesses the developing affection between the Prince and Princess, and mirroring the Poet’s soul, her desire for the Prince turns to desperation.
Determined to become human, the little Mermaid searches for the Sea Witch. Love gives the little Mermaid courage to beg for a human body. A terrible ritual follows, and taking her beautiful tail as ransom, the Sea Witch violently transforms her. The little Mermaid now has legs.
the performance last night was simply stunning….
I so wish this could be broadcast again on PBS Great Performances.