Fat Bubble: Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch
Welcome to the Fat Bubble, where we acknowledge and celebrate fat culture, and elevate fat experiences. I know that fat affirmative culture is life-changing, and it's my pleasure to celebrate that here with you.
And today is a real celebration, as I'm still feeling truly restored from the excellent evening I had on Friday at Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle, watching Unfortunate - The Untold Story of Ursula The Sea Witch! Consider it a parody genesis story - as Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz, Unfortunate is to The Little Mermaid.
Ursula has long been a treasured fat and queer icon - largely inspired by Divine, she embodies a camp and gleeful villainy. When portrayed in the new live action Disney film, some from the fat community were not overjoyed by Melissa McCarthy as Ursula - whilst a great actress, we wanted a performance that was queerer, something more fat joyful.
Well, look no further, because that portrayal has arrived in Unfortunate! I first heard about Unfortunate at Sofie Hagen's Fat Jokes show last year - whilst introducing their support act, Daniel Foxx, they mentioned he had been writing a new genesis musical about Ursula. I found him, and then the show on IG, and waited for dates.
Because, and this won't come as any surprise to you, I love fatness. I love fat culture and finding ways to celebrate our identity. I love opportunities for representation and connection. I love this little niche. I think of Maya Angelou saying, 'of course I'm a feminist. I've been a female for a long time - it would be stupid not to be on my own side'. Humbly, I'll parody Ms Angelou and say, of course I'm a fat activist. I've been fat for a long time - it would be silly not to be on my own side.
So I rocked up to Elephant and Castle on Friday night with a fat pal, but I truly could not have been prepared for what an awesome evening we were going to have. Halfway through the first half, I could feel my cheeks aching from smiling and screaming with laughter. A magical explosion of fatness and queerness and gender fuckery - a bold and defiant reclamation of Ursula, and of outcasts and misfits and marginalised folks everywhere.
The lyrics are clever, the melodies are catchy - the themes and messages were everything we hoped for. And the cast! Such talent from all the cast - campy, extravagant talent. We had the understudy for both Ariel and Triton, but it's honestly hard to now how they could have been better, because they were both so so so much fun! In the centre, Shawna Hamic truly, finally, gave us the Ursula we deserved. Liberated from Disneyfication, Unfortunate could actually explore the themes of gender, patriarchy, body politics and beauty standards, but all in a way that made us roar with laughter and familiarity. But, honestly, there was a time we both shed a little tear too, because seeing sing a (rock) ballad to a fat person is always going to be moving to me. I just LOVE that feeling of knowing that something is truly for me and, with media, fat people are often denied that feeling. The buzz as people left the theatre was palpable - we had just enjoyed a true celebration - a creative, scrappy celebration.
This whole experience screams fat culture to me. From hearing about it for the first time at a fat comedian's show (entitled Fat Jokes), to then going to the performance with a fat friend for fat joy, to looking around the audience and seeing fatness celebrated and delighted in, the whole experience has been a joy. Fat culture begets fat culture; fat connection leads to fat connection. Engaging with fat community allows you to be reflected back to yourself in a thousand different ways, and what an affirmation that is. Friday night made me fatter and queerer than I was before... and how wonderful is that?!
Unfortunate is on at the Southwark Playhouse in Elephant and Castle until 17 July but then is on tour through the UK (dates on the website), and I so hope you're able to find a performance near you - you won't be disappointed!
Until next time friends, wishing you safety and joy.
Vicky