The Snow Queen n Review: Malvern Theatre Players

The essentials of the original tale are there: good versus evil, enchantment, friendship, magic and the evocative setting - the snowy and frozen wastes of Lapland.

It is not always easy to represent the great outdoors on stage but this production, with a simple set and fantastic lighting, manages to create the clear, harsh, cold light and a real chilly feel.

It is beautifully done and the costumes and overall look of the whole production is just right, with the characters, in the main, looking just like those from the pages of a story book.

I watched it with three children, aged from five to eight, and they were enthralled. They also enjoyed the panto-style humour brought to the story by the comedy crows, Cosmo and Cora, played by Lee Farley and Dianne Lloyd

The humour and songs don't detract from the story, which is about a young girl's journey across Lapland in search of her much-loved friend Kay.

Enchanted by splinters from a magic mirror which have turned his heart to ice and made him view the world through cold, unfeeling eyes, Kay is kidnapped by the evil Snow Queen.

On her journey to find him his friend, Gerda, encounters a prince and princess, talking crows, a reindeer and a band of robbers. Kay's rescue and redemption at the Snow Queen's palace completes the story.

Hattie Lloyd and Luke Lupton as Gerda and Kay gave excellent performances and Tamara Seabright was a suitably cold and glittering Snow Queen. I also enjoyed Marilyn Middleton as the Lapwoman and Grandmother.

Hans Christian Anderson's original tale is a dark and somewhat disturbing one. It has been retold many times in many different ways. This stage version works and credit must go to the director Sue Lupton and the cast for this polished and professional production.

For children who enjoy traditional fairy tales, The Snow Queen is a real treat. Final performances are tonight (Friday) at 7pm and tomorrow at 2pm and 7pm. Sue Vickers.