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(Posted 3:30 p.m., Nov. 28)
OYP
holiday production a reminder of the importance of friendship
and family
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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 The
Orleans Young Players Theatre School presents
its holiday season production of 'The Snow
Queen and the Goblin' this weekend at the
Shenkman Arts Centre. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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The
local holiday arts scene officially kicks off this weekend
with a trio of performances by the Orléans Young
Players Theatre School, the Gloucester Music Club, and
a gathering of community church choirs at the Orléans
Christmas Choirfest.
The
OYPTS all ages winter play family class is performing
their production of "The Snow Queen and the Goblin"
based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale "The
Snow".
The
play stays true to the Martha Bennett King adaptation
of the story -- which added a goblin as the Snow Queen's
accomplice -- with a few additional tweaks by OYP artistic
director Kathi Langston.
In
order to accommodate the 40-member all ages class, Langston
cast the narrators as famous Hans Christian Anderson characters
including Thumbelina, the Little Mermaid and the Ugly
Duckling.
The
production also has a large ensemble chorus which at various
times in the play portrays a flower garden, magical snow
flakes and and imprisoned children.
The
main characters are the Snow Queen, played by Sylvia Glenn,
the Goblin, played by Gabe Schmitt, and the childhood
friends Gerda and Kai, who are marvelously played by Lauren
Jane Hudson and David Corrigan.
At
the beginning of the play, the audience is told about
a giant mirror that reflects only the bad in people and
freezes the hearts of all who gaze at in its reflection.
As the mirror grows the goblin carries it into the clouds,
but a strong wind causes him to lose his grasp and the
mirror falls to the earth and shatters into a million
pieces.
Gerda
and Kai are the closest of friends. They enjoy tending
Kai's grandmother's flower boxes and playing together,
but one day a shard of glass from the broken mirror gets
into his eye and makes its way to his heart.
Kai's
temperment immediately changes and he becomes hostile
towards Gerda. The next winter while out sledding, Kai
attachs his sled to the Snow Queen's sleigh while she
is out looking for new children to ensnare. She kisses
him twice -- once to numb him from the cold and the second
time to make him forget about his grandmother and Gerda.
Heartbroken
over the disappearance of her friend, Gerda decides to
search for him and meets a number of interesting characters
along the way, including a talking crow, a prince and
princess, and a robber girl who takes pity on her and
agrees to lend her her reindeer Bae.
Before
arriving at the Snow Queen's frozen castle, Gerda and
Bae meet a wise wizard who tells them the only potion
Gerda needs to free Kai is her own love expressed in the
words of her favourite song Roses Flower in the Vale.
Gerda's
love is so strong that she not only frees Kai, she melts
the hearts of the Snow Queen and the goblin and all children
they've imprisoned.
"The
Snow Queen and the Goblin" is a wonderful tale that
reminds us all of the importance of friends and family,
especially during the holiday season.
The
play wraps up with a final performance tomorrow at 2:30
p.m. in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre.
Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults, and are
available at the door.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business partners.)
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