A Dukes, Lancaster production
The Snow Queen
26 November 2010 – 8 January 2011
review by Alan Chard
Production photographs : Press Release : Review
The Snow Queen
26 November 2010 – 8 January 2011
The Dukes production of The Snow Queen is an adaptation by Mike Kerry of Hans Christian Anderson's original story. This is a production with differences, lots of differences and every one of them is a delight.
The show begins with grandma reluctantly telling a story, grandma has some rather unusual spectacles and who knows what will happen when she uses them, many unexpected things do happen as the story unfolds. Gerda searches for Kai and has colourful adventures with the flowers. As in the original, Kai does meet the Snow Queen, who is much larger than life, making Kai look like a midget. The special effects work very well. There is a scene where characters pass back and forth between a make-believe world that is projected and the stage that calls for split-second timing. It was expertly done and held the audience spellbound.
On another occasion Gerda wrestles with a huge replica of a robber and had the audience in fits of laughter.
During the performance the audience was silent when you would expect them to be, and laughed heartily in the appropriate places. This is not panto - it is theatre at its best, a Christmas treat for all the family.
Don't go expecting the classic Snow Queen, go expecting something spectacular and ever-changing. Short vignettes, imaginative use of puppets, projection and some amazing visual trickery that is a real treat. I recommend this production highly.
Alan Chard, November 2010
