Show of the week: Great Performances: The Little Mermaid From San Francisco Ballet
John Neumeier of the Hamburg Ballet did the choreography, costumes, and design, while Lera Auerbach composed the music to this contemporary interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale.
A far cry from the Disney film, this interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale blends theater and dance to tell a haunting story of unrequited love. Evocative choreography, costumes, and design—all by the Hamburg Ballet’s John Neumeier—combine with composer Lera Auerbach’s plaintive modern music to create powerful expressionistic drama. What’s more, the dancers are splendid—particularly Yuan Yuan Tan, who is elegant and touching in the title role. Friday, Dec. 16, at 9 p.m., PBS; check local listings
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Book reviews: 'Clint: The Man and the Movies' and 'What Is Wrong With Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything'
Feature A deep dive on Clint Eastwood and how Michael Douglas' roles reflect a shift in masculinity
-
Recreation or addiction? Military base slot machines rake in millions.
Under the Radar There are several thousand slot machines on military bases
-
How is AI reshaping the economy?
Today's Big Question Big Tech is now 'propping up the US economy'