Theater Review: Frozen

                        

                            Caroline Bowman in Disney's "Frozen"

“Frozen” has a history longer than some novels, or so it seemed as I tried to bone up on the history, in preparation for reviewing the newest version. The saga is way too long. Suffice it to say that this is the first live-action stage version since the last animated film version in 2013.

The Disney Theatrical version is onstage at San Diego Civic Theatre through January 29, and it’s worth the wait. For the record, five stagings are running concurrently – in London, Japan, Australia and Hamburg as well as this U.S. national tour.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think this show is just about spectacle. It certainly has a lot – projection screens, LED lights, dry ice-like atmospheric effects, a life-sized moving Sven reindeer, countless Swarovski crystals and enormous set pieces like an icy footbridge.

It’s also got a revolving cast of 15 major roles and a huge ensemble, 20-some songs and a touring orchestra of a dozen players, conducted by Faith Seetoo.

Though you could be forgiven for settling for spectacle, you’d be missing the heart of the story, which involves love and the willingness to give up something really important to you for a greater good.

Two sisters – Elsa, the elder (Caroline Bowman) and the younger Anna (Lauren Nicole Chapman) have a difficult relationship. The reason: Known only to her father, Elsa has been given the powers of ice and snow. Dad counsels her not to tell anyone, which makes relating to sister Anna a bit difficult, especially after Elsa inadvertently injures her sister, which leads to them growing up separated.

But when their parents are killed in a sea accident, Elsa is called back for her coronation, leading to more stresses between her and Anna. Elsa flees to the nearby mountains, where she meets Olaf (puppeteer Jeremy Davis), a reindeer named Sven (Dan Plehal) and Kristoff the ice salesman (Dominic Dorset). Anna has, of course, followed her sister, and romance may be in the air (and complicate lives further (when the handsome Hans (Will Savarese) meets both young women. How can this work out?

Why, magically, of course, and musically, and with the aid of fantastic costumes, scenery, backdrops and these fine singing/dancing actors.

Bowman’s adult Elsa is a wonder. Hers is the more reserved character, but she can (and does) sing and dance up a storm. Chapman’s Anna is more of a spitfire by nature, willing to try anything, especially after she meets Hans and Kristoff. She’s fun to watch.

Everybody involved in this production deserves kudos, from Director Michael Grandage to choreographer Rob Ashford, scenic and costume designer Christopher Oram, lighting designer Natasha Katz, sound designer Peter Hylenski and those responsible for video design (Finn Ross), puppets (Michael Curry), hair design (David Brian Brown and special effects (Jeremy Chernick).

Wait’ll you see that reindeer Sven. 

Posters for the show call it “Simply Magical.”  I’d agree with that.

Dominic Dorset and Dan Plehal

The details

“Frozen” plays through Jan. 29, 2023 at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Avenue, Downtown.

Shows Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: Civic Theatre box office, Ticketmaster or online at BroadwaySD.com