"The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen has long been considered one of the Danish author's greatest stories.
Essentially a battle between good and evil showcasing the redemptive power of love, the tale is one of Andersen's longest and most complex narratives. The new B Street Family Series production, adapted by Dave Pierini, considerably tightens Andersen's original but retains the core themes through two main opposing characters.
Maggie Hollinbeck's regal Snow Queen wants to spread cold throughout the world and eliminate all love. Her main tools are the slight shards of a magic mirror which pierce the eyes and heart, turning people mean, cold and unfeeling.
When the Snow Queen is able to seduce John Lamb's young Kay away from his home, taking him to her castle, his sister, Gerda, goes looking for him. Cynthia Zitter's honest wholesome Gerda becomes the Snow Queen's opposite, bringing warmth and decency to all she encounters.
Though Andersen made Gerda's adventures into seven separate episodes in his story, here Pierini has cut them down and combined some elements. As Gerda makes her way in the world, she continually encounters people unknowingly rendered unhappy by the Snow Queen's magic mirror.
Central among them are Stephanie Altholz's intelligent princess who can't find a prince smart enough to interest her. The princess trades for Gerda's help in finding a husband, sending her talking raven (the wonderful shape-shifting comic actress Amy Kelly) to fly off and find Gerda's brother.
Gerda also comes across a family of robbers led by veteran actor Ed Claudio (who sings!) and Kelly again. The family are tyrannized by their daughter, played by Altholz, who conscripts Gerda to become her best friend.
Throughout Gerda's adventures, the Snow Queen gradually erases Kay's memory of his past. Only solving a word puzzle can free him from her domination.
There's great fun in the multicharacter portrayals of Claudio, Kelly and Altholz, and B Street veteran John Lamb again proves his worth with engaging performances as Kay and a smart suitor prince named Astor.
Hollinbeck and Zitter are a fine pair of antagonists, naturally summoning essential qualities of their strong-willed characters.
Composer Noah Agruss wrote the jaunty original score while director Jerry Montoya stages Pierini's literate and thoughtful script with a lean dramatic earnestness.
THE SNOW QUEEN
three and a half stars
What: B Street's Dave Pierini adapts Hans Christian Andersen's story of an evil queen and the brave girl who dares to oppose her. The production stars Maggie Hollinbeck and Cynthia Zitter with music by Noah Agruss.
When: 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. this Friday; 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 23, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 27-30; 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 31
Where: B3 Stage at B Street Theatre, 2727 B St., Sacramento
Cost: $13-$22; $5 for student rush
Information: 916) 443-5300,www.bstreettheatre. org
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