Theatre Review
Eleanor Pearson 1 August 2015 Let it Snow! A Warming Winter's Tale
A Scandinavian grandmother spins tales in the night to her two young grandchildren, Kai and Gerda.
“Always be on your guard against the Snow Queen.”
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Twists and turns abound in this retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen classic. Expect an eclectic cast of whimsical and magical characters, including trolls, robbers, Nordic gods and goddesses, and a wise woman who pits herself against the wicked Snow Queen.
This musical production is aimed at young people, and Lane Cove Theatre Company brings the best out in its young cast. All the actors are believable in their roles.
This musical production is aimed at young people, and Lane Cove Theatre Company brings the best out in its young cast. All the actors are believable in their roles.
Tara Black (Gerda) and Oliver Clisdell (Kai) were realistic as sister and brother. Haydon Ashley as the bewildered and bewitched god of Spring, Frey, completed a convincing transformation to become the Snow Queen’s lackey, Frost. As the goddess of Spring and Frey’s determined sister, Freya, Abbey Thomas was lovely. Statuesque and utterly formidable, Therese Bean as the Snow Queen had magnificent presence, and her snow guards had plenty of attitude.
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As Granny and the wise woman of the north, Sarah Edwards was also well cast.
In the vein of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge this young people's production also takes popular songs and puts a different spin on them. Don’t be surprised to hear Madonna’s 1998 single Frozen delivered in a new context. The play features its share of Disney movie songs, with the cast’s hearty rendition of Let It Go from the 2013 film, Frozen, an obvious highlight.
In the intimate stage space provided by St Aidans Hall, Longueville, the simplicity of the set worked well. Although the smoke machine signalling the imminent presence of the Snow Queen was a little overused. At the Friday night performance I attended, the crowd was warm, with plenty of applause throughout for the soloist singers.
In the nine short weeks of rehearsals, directors Lochie Beh and Trent Gardiner evidently built up a rapport among the cast members.
Suspend your disbelief for an hour or two, go with the flow, and enjoy the obvious delight of the young performers in this imaginative and thoroughly warming Winter production.
The Snow Queen plays until August 8th.
In the intimate stage space provided by St Aidans Hall, Longueville, the simplicity of the set worked well. Although the smoke machine signalling the imminent presence of the Snow Queen was a little overused. At the Friday night performance I attended, the crowd was warm, with plenty of applause throughout for the soloist singers.
In the nine short weeks of rehearsals, directors Lochie Beh and Trent Gardiner evidently built up a rapport among the cast members.
Suspend your disbelief for an hour or two, go with the flow, and enjoy the obvious delight of the young performers in this imaginative and thoroughly warming Winter production.
The Snow Queen plays until August 8th.
Lane Cove Theatre Company
Season: 24 July - 8 August Address: St Aidans Hall, 1 Christina Street, Longueville NSW 2066 |
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