A Mermaid Show Grabbing New Orleans by the Tail
Everyone loves a mermaid. With the tail of a fish and the body of a gorgeous woman, mermaids are the best land-sea combo out there since the Surf and Turf po-boy at Parkway Bakery. These exotic creatures have long fascinated and enticed their human counterparts with their mystique, beauty, and sea-worthiness. From the ancient sirens to The Little Mermaid, mermaids have appeared throughout history in art, literature, film, theater… and now at the PORT Space in New Orleans.
Answer the call of the sirens and come out this weekend for a unique and unforgettable mermaid show. Premiering Friday October 23 and Saturday October 24 only, Splish: The Rise and Fall of the Show and Tail, is an “interactive theatrical performance and installation spectacular.”
The show is inspired by sideshow attractions such as the live mermaid shows in Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida, and a now-extinct roadside attraction-turned-brothel, known as the Brookdale Lodge in Santa Cruz, CA. Splish will be performed in the masque style of theater, which is “a grand spectacle where the live audience is invited to interact directly with the costumes, scenery, and story as it unfolds.” But don’t be alarmed. Though Splish offers up “amphibisexuals,” and announces that “interspecies sex and deep sea monsters abound,” the audience will not be participating in that. Jade Brandt, one of the installation coordinators and lead fabricators, describes a masque: “Nobody has to interact. One is walking into a fully immersive reality. And the sheer act of being there makes one a participant. All cast and crew are in character…It’s a bit like going to the Renaissance Fair.” (Mermaid-style, of course).
If you have an affinity for the quirky or even the kinky, if sleeping with the fishes is actually a fetish of yours... this might be the show for you. Or, if you just like a good party and want to get out and enjoy yourself, you should still give Splish a try. Because whether you’re looking for a little fun or a little fin, Brandt says, “We believe this show is for everyone (except the kids). Part of our narrative is adult in nature. It is not for children. And part of our narrative is pure camp and good clean American spectacle and fun. And all of it is hilarious. It's a good time.”
There will be music (both live and DJ-spun), bars (so you can drink like a fish), drag queen performances, and plenty of mermaid-friendly entertainment.
Guests are asked to dress up in costume to be a part of the show. The suggested dress theme is tourists from the 60s or 70s, or disco kings and queens of the same era. So throw on your best Bourbon Street T-shirt, leave the kiddies at home watching Ariel and Sebastian on Netflix, and fish-tail it to the PORT Space to see Splish, the best show under the sea.
Splish: The Rise and Fall of the Show and Tail is showing October 23 and 24, at PORT: 2120 Port Street, at Port and Galvez Streets.
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Show starts at 8:00 PM.
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
For more info, check out www.splishsplish.com or https://www.facebook.com/events/439182219598488/
