Showing @ Lyceum Theatre until 31st Dec
With the freezing snow and icy wind forcing us mortals into taverns for mulled wine and fireside gossip it seems that the Snow Queen remains unchallenged as she rides her sleigh, turns children cruel and bids for a perpetual winter. Now whether you want to pretend the Snow Queen is a metaphor for general ignorance to climate change or Santa’s pissed off ex-wife is up to you, but Fifer Stuart Paterson’s version of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic 1840s tale creates that rare combination of a completely fresh adaptation with a Scottish edge whilst keeping hold of the panto traditions with boos and hisses, song and dance and an unshakable feeling of Christmassy magic.
Evil Snow Queen (Alison McKenzie) is desperate to find a cruel child, with the help of Cobweb (Robin Laing) and a magic mirror made by the Devil, she aims to spear a child’s heart to make winter last forever. Cobweb picks orphan Kay (Mark Prendergast) but he didn’t account for the passion of Gerda (Helen Mackay) and Grandma (Julie Duncanson) or the Bhima (Leo Wringer) the African Sun God who fight to release Kay from her icy clasps.
Under Mark Thomson’s direction this isn’t just for the kiddies, with sinister ghosts and a chilling sound design from Alan Penman the eldritch horrors of Andersen’s original tale come to life in this production. The ensemble cast multi-role, sing, conjure up boos and cheers from the diverse audience, filled with little people and ironic adults, and it’s their energy that keeps the show alive, with McKenzie contorting her figures as she bellows commands and a cameo from Grant O’Rourke as a gold mad king and a soft Polar Bear. Helping to bring out a Tim Burtonesque darkness are Ken Harrison’s set and costume designs with gigantic glistening gates and Cobweb’s jacket proving standout. But it’s Paterson’s words that truly engage with the issues at the heart of this macabre tale, to get to the Ice Palace Gerda must go alone, not only does this remind us of Andersen’s bleak and perverse descriptions of tortured childhoods but the idea that even the magical Sun needs saving pushes this tale firmly into the twenty-first century: it’s people that need to act to save this planet, not to wait for Governments or laws to be dictated to us but for individuals to come together to protest and fight. It’s the sign of a winning show when a team can get together to create an entirely fun and enjoyable production that doesn’t shy away from the bigger issues and this Christmas the Lyceum has done just that.