 A
vain, evil queen. A young maiden with skin as white as snow who is the fairest
person in the land. A magic mirror. Seven dwarfs. Ancient Greece???
Northglenn
Youth Theatre is putting on this non-Disney version of Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs, an adaptation based on the tale from the Brothers Grimm.
Director Kimberly Jongejan has further adapted it to take place in
Ancient Greece. The result is a very curious mix of German folklore, a bunch of
clever and wicked humor, some extremely sugary dialogue, and doses of Greek
tragedy.
The
strongest parts of this show are its magnificent production values (marvelous
sets and costumes by Brian Mangum and Debbie Faber respectively)
and a young, talented cast that really hits home in the play’s comedic scenes.
Hilary
Johnston is
the sweet and humble Snow White who has to endure showers of compliments from
her castle friends and a reluctantly attempted murder from Berthold the
Huntsman (Ethan Knowles) before she gets led/dragged by a determined
bird toward a small, empty cottage (that seems more German than Greek). And it
is there that Hilary seems most comfortable and the play becomes more
effective, when the sugariness begins to be used as a comedic tool with help
from characters like the little bird and, of course, the seven dwarfs whose
entrance really gets the show off and running. The terrified and then curious
dwarfs are a hoot. As is their interesting method of bathing in a sort of
reverse “running the gauntlet” style.
And
then there are the unforgettable costars played by some extraordinary comedic
actors. Krysta Thorne is a killer queen whose facial expressions,
monstrous vanity, and snidely evil personality is amusing to everyone except,
of course, poor Snow White. She is aided in her wicked ways by a couple of very
different assistants. One is the absurd Sir Dandiprat Bombas, with Brian
Newby stealing his scenes as the silly, brown-nosing, bombastic Bombas.
And finally, there’s comic wizard Maggie
Schlundt as Witch Hex whose masterful nose for comedy and vocal intonations
make even her desire for Snow White’s heart to complete her recipe for hair
tonic an amusing thing. And when the hunter doesn’t give the bald witch her
last ingredient? Why, she has to turn the queen into a disguised Pedlar Woman
who will try to sell Snow White some of the witch’s “magic killing things” like
poisoned apples (the Pedlar Woman being played with such conniving skill and
humor by Kandice Martellaro).
Since it’s a happily ever after story rather
than a tragedy, and since the Ancient Greece aspect isn’t built into the entire
story, perhaps the Greek Tragedy element as well as the bits of overly sugary talk and
dancing at the castle would have worked better if it had all been done with a
sense of humor and knowing winks to the audience. A trick which is done at
times with great success, like the scene in which the adorable little tweeting bird (Ashlee
Baldwin) tries to warn Snow White that the huntsman is about to kill her,
eventually dragging her gruffly off by her hair while Snow White continues in
her sweetly confused tone, “Do you want me to come with you?”
Performs through April 30, 2006.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Snow White: Hilary Johnston
Queen Brangomar: Krysta Thorne
Witch Hex: Maggie Schlundt
Sir Dandiprat Bombas: Brian Newby
Berthold the Huntsman: Ethan Knowles
Prince Florimond of Calydon: Brant Crosby
~ Maids of Honor ~
Rosalys: Rachel Faught
Christabel: Desiree Garneau
Amelotte: Katie Deuschle
Ermendgarde: Ashley Ziegler
Guinivere: Abby Brich
Astolaine: Anna Allen
Ursula: Nicole Lopez Del Carril
Lynette: Karen K. Joseph
~ Dwarfs ~
Blick: Travis Clisham
Flick: Matt Klamm
Glick: Kyle Steeno
Snick: Brian Thomas
Plick: Dave Moyer
Whick: Vianes Rodriguez
Quee: Terren Coffey
Magic Mirror: Kim Hoeben
Pedlar-Woman: Kandice Martellaro
Flunkies: Joshua Tufford, Avery Anderson
Valentine: Michael Martinez
Brown Bird/Vivian: Ashlee Baldwin
Long Tail: Kelsey Stauffer
Short Tail: Breana Tindall
Lack Tail: Haley Pachelo
Greek Chorus:
Matt West
Brant Crosby
Lauren Lewakowski
Rhiannon Burnham
Ivory Woolhiser
Hannah Wold
Kim Hoben
Kelsey Stauffer
Kandice Martellaro
Director: Kimberly Jongejan
Asst. Director/Stage Manager/Masks: Rachel Brazell
Technical Director/Set Design: Brian Mangum
Choreographer: Angila Waldman
Costumes: Debbie Faber
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