While both use a narrator, in other respects Lionboy and Mermaid don't have much in common. One largely female cast, the other led by a male. One adapts a Hans Christen Anderson classic into something more sophisticatedly modern, the other has taken a trilogy of adventures and produced a single show. However, both Lionboy and Mermaid are beautiful, stylistic and intelligent adaptions of children's literary fiction. The staging and dramatology of the plays are such that the likes of Brecht and Brook would be proud. There is something original about them both, while also displaying characteristics of several practitioners and movements.
One distinct, notable aspect of both plays is their shared use of self-awareness. While Lionboy takes this one step further by having the actors introduce themselves and their roles, there is no obvious use for it.
In Mermaid, though, this self-awareness is cleverly used to ensure the audience don't become too immersed in the play-world and consequently ensuring they will observe and notice the show's many messages – the most of important of which is understanding one's self-worth.