Photo – Mark Cotter

 

I am a bit outside my comfort zone with Disney material and I am one of the few people who has not seen the film that this stage musical is based on. However, I understand the popularity and familiarity of this tale for many people. A capacity audience at the Maddermarket was brimming with enthusiasm for this show and we were not disappointed. Director Anna Lawrence has done a great job with a large cast of skilled youngsters to make this a magical experience in an atmospheric venue.

Frozen is loosely based on a Hans Christian Andersen story called ‘The Snow Queen’. Like many a Disney makeover it takes the original story and softens it almost out of recognition into an easy watching family friendly entertainment. Made in modern times the musical and film also gives us two strong female characters in the leading roles as sisters Anna and Elsa. We see the two sisters growing up, giving a chance to six young actresses to show their singing, dancing and acting skills which they all do very well. So Tia Kerton and Florence Martin hand over to Florence Rymarz (who I remember from a superb performance as Matilda in a previous show) and Lizzy Masterson, then Liberty Taylor and Millie Rowlands impress us as the girls turn into young adults.

Shane Davenport and Daisy Frankland look suitably imperious as the sisters’ King and Queen parents, who trot off somewhere and never return, leaving Princess Elsa to become the new Queen of Arendelle. The sisters have been estranged because of the dangers of Elsa’s magic powers, which seem to include an instant deep freeze of anything or anyone in her way, which occasionally includes Anna. As young women they attempt to reunite, but the old cold magic is still causing trouble.

Having accidentally turned her country into a fridge Elsa goes off to live in an ice palace so she can do no more harm, but Anna teams up with a chap called Kristoff (Charlie Clarke) and his noisy reindeer Sven, who gets lots of laughs. Sven is energetically played by Finn Richardson-Gunn who some may remember as the formidable Miss Trunchbull in Matilda Junior. They join forces with the snowman Olaf (Noah Wellstead) who charms all before him. On the way they get some help from Oaken, memorably performed with great energy and precision by Sam River Nuttall.

With a big cast of youngsters on stage it can be difficult to keep them all focused on their roles, but Director Anna Lawrence has achieved that difficult balance between letting individual performers shine while making sure that they are all committed to the drama. It is worth watching some of the younger players like Elsa’s Snow Chorus or the Oaken family to see how well this has been achieved. Every single actor on this stage is confident of their character and their place on the stage, which on the tiny Maddermarket stage is a real achievement.

The young cast give us confident and competent renditions of the many musical numbers in a show where every scene has its own song, including some which have become sing along favourites from the animated film. Frozen is a good choice for a youth theatre company as it gives a wide range of performers a chance to show their skills together, and their enjoyment in being on stage is infectious. Frozen can melt the coldest of hearts and sends everyone home happy!

© Julian Swainson
Norwich Eye
2 June 2023