REVIEW | The Snow Queen, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Written by Sarah
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.
Morna Young’s ‘The Snow Queen’, based on the Hans Christian Anderson folk classic, cheerfully welcomes audience members both young and old, and is a little piece of musical magic for the start of the festive (and frigid season)!
Performed at Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum, we are taken on a Scottish storybook quest; themes of love and friendship, and good versus evil, are presented through richly layered stage design [including a nicely crafted silhouette of Edinburgh’s Castle Rock] and well-acted performances. Emily James' costume design is stunning, bringing life to each and every character.
12-year-old Gerda (Rosie Graham) whose best friend Kei (Sebastian Lim-Seet) has been captured and manipulated by the Snow Queen (Claire Dargo), is the leader of the long and treacherous journey, and venturing from Perth to the Cairngorms, and the North Sea to The Highlands where the Queen awaits at her icy Palace, she meets an array of highly engaging mythical characters.
With cheeky one-liners and an infectious on-stage presence, Hamish the rainbow-striped Unicorn (played by the very funny Richard Conlon) is a crowd pleaser. And then there is the Snow Queen herself — Dargo fully embraces this role, and her villainous laugh is chilling, quite literally.
Warm-hearted and meaningful, ‘The Snow Queen’ will surely delight children with its sparkle and charm, and adults will equally be entertained by the clear campy edge.
A Christmastime must-see!
At Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh until 31 December.
★ ★ ★ ★
