'SNOW QUEEN' Subtheme of fairy tale adaption looks at potential of human heart

By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SHARON, Pa. -- Walnut Lodge Yoga and Movement Center will present an original production of Hans Christian Anderson's "Snow Queen."
The adaptation of the fairy tale was written by Abbey Alter, owner of the school, and her husband, James Willaman, wrote the original music. It will be a combination of ballet, acting, music and giant puppets, with a narrator.
"Most people probably don't know the story, but it is really about coming of age," said Alter. "Two children -- a girl, Gerda, and boy, Kay -- are best friends. One winter, a grandmother tells them the story of the Snow Queen, who frosts the windows when winter comes. The boy suddenly sees a blue figure outside and becomes frightened."
But there is also a substory going on. "Long ago, demons made a mirror," Alter continued. "It made everything that was reflected in it ugly. The idea was that they felt there was ugliness in everyone's heart. They decided to test it on the angels, but on their way up to heaven, the mirror became so heavy that they dropped it and it shattered into millions of pieces that became scattered all over the globe. As it did, pieces got lodged in peoples' eyes and hearts. It became the myth for explaining why people become cold-hearted and see only ugliness."
A turning point
One summer day, as Gerda and Kay are in the garden, Kay gets something in his eye. He begins to change, to treat Gerda badly, and to lose his compassion. "Kay is in a new place, and Gerda doesn't understand why he has changed," said Alter. "He becomes nasty, and pulls pranks. That winter, he and his friends are playing with their sleds when the Snow Queen appears. Kay hooks his sled to her sleigh, and follows her home. It wasn't an abduction; he does it voluntarily."
Alter said this is part of the coming of age element. "The Snow Queen becomes an obsession for Kay," she said. "She kisses him, and it is his first sexual feeling toward an older woman. But he also sees her as perfection. Snow is crystalline, mathematically perfect in shape, while flowers can be deformed. He is also trying to spell out a word and the Snow Queen says to him, 'When you can find out this, you shall be your own master, and I will give you the whole world, and a new pair of skates.'"
But Gerda loves Kay, and wants to save him -- she senses that he needs her -- so she begins a series of adventures.
Walnut Lodge is actually an old church, and the audience will be sitting in the round with the performance taking place around it.
Alter said the building is perfect for the production, and the performers will be all over, including the choir loft.
She will be using children and professionals in the roles, she said.
Ron Gracilla designed and built the giant puppets. Tony Kropp built the giant flower costumes. Willaman will be performing the music on guitar and synthesizer, and Sam Perry will narrate.
Jill Niess, former director of Great Lakes Festival Ballet in Warren, will dance the role of the Snow Queen.