FATHER FROST - AT THE TOWN AND GOWN
Cold forests seem to breed, or at least attract cold hearts. This is especially true in the wooded land of folk tales. Luckily, stories set in frozen pine forests (especially those howl-high in wolves) usually have some kind of melt up. ‘Father Frost’ is no exception to this shivery landscape. Based on a trad folk story from the Steppes too far, librettist, lyricist and composer, Geoff Page has created a charming theatrical piece aimed at the child in all of us. The 65-minute ensemble piece combines song, narration and fairy tale. Many of the necessary ingredients for a Crimbo Limbo kids’ show were there: Olya, a wicked stepmother, Tatyana, a spoilt brat teenie child, Alina, an angelic heroine of the same age, Pawel a weak and useless husband and a growling dog. The last named was one of the stars of this hearth warming story. ‘Max’ is a boney, dog-sized puppet who barks at the baddies and ‘talks’ to his owner Alina, the Cinderella-like skivvy of the family.
Told largely through original song, the hard done-by Alina, who cannot have a new dress nor a birthday party (unlike the horrible stepsister Tatyana) is cast out into the aforesaid snowy woods and left to expire. Happily for her (and us) she is saved by the arrival of the archetypal mysterious stranger. Yea, tis the magical figure of Father Frost and his cheeky sidekick Jack. Rewarding Alina for remarkably good deeds (like spending Tatyana’s birthday party money on the poor – not a cheer-up outcome for Olya and her nasty daughter), Frosty gives the girl a casket of gold, a new dress and a golden pinecone that can confer one wish.
Without giving you a spoiler, suffice to say that good prevails, selfish and nasty behaviour is punished, and light at tunnel end is seen. Narrator and the eponymous magician, Will Males did a fine job at holding the rather dark narrative together. The children in the sell-out audience fell in love with Max and would surely have booed the tantrummy Tatyana (played with suitable hatefulness by Sophie McMahon). Holly Masters caught the bright-eyed Alina with lots of verve and some very ear-catching singing. Nicholas Alexander also shone as the voice and puppetry of the lovable mutt. Benedict Gibson convinced as the good-hearted but weak-kneed pa Pawel. Charlotte Touboulic completed the cast as the joyfully wicked Olya.
The set of the Town and Gown stage was brightly filled with Christmas trees and icicles and there was a very nice snow sprinkling scene. I think the show, deftly directed by Leslie Ford, could have benefitted from a bit more magic and a bit less singing. But these are small crits in what is a delightful seasonal offering, nicely acted by a young local cast, and containing many catchy tunes. Father Frost is a show to melt the heart.
PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL ASHLEY
