ASF's 'Snow Queen' is no Disney princess

If all you know about “Snow Queen” is what you’ve seen in the mega-hit Disney animated movie “Frozen,” take that story idea and “Let It Go.” 

"I think for everyone who has only been exposed to the story through that movie, and though the music in that movie, this is going to be a really different version of that tale,” said Katie Fanning, who plays the title character of the Snow Queen. 

Fanning said the Snow Queen from the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale is a very mysterious figure who is pretty far from the Disney version. The character was also the inspiration for the villainous White Witch in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” 

The ASF production is adapted from the original Danish tale by director Nancy Rominger, ASF’s associate director and head of the Southern Writers’ Project. 

"I think what I enjoy the most is getting to actually explore what this magical, powerful being is that everyone’s so afraid of,” said Fanning. "Exploring whether it’s worth it to be afraid, or whether they have misjudged her in some kind of way. That’s very enjoyable.”

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The story itself follows two children, Gerda (Lara Treacy) and Kai (Colin Wulff). "Kai has suddenly changed,” said Fanning. "He’s become very difficult to be around, and then disappears. His very good friend Gerda decides that she is going to go and find him. She undergoes all of these obstacles and really difficult tasks that she gets through as a little girl, in spite of all the odds. It’s a really inspiring story.”

Going side-by-side with Gerda’s story is that of the Snow Queen, who has kidnapped Kai. “We see why she’s done that and sort of how she’s operating,” said Fanning. 

Fanning’s transformation into the Snow Queen itself is something she describes as supernatural. 

"The costume team has done an incredible job creating this beautiful dress, and this beautiful cape and crown that are just out of this world,” said Fanning. 

Add the wig and dazzling airbrushed white as snow skin. “When I’m in the costume and the makeup, I don’t look like a human being,” said Fanning. "I look like a fairy princess from the North Pole, or a villain from the North Pole, depending on the way you’re looking at it."

The play runs from Saturday, Jan. 6, through Feb. 3, with performances on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. It’s a roughly 70 minute performance with no intermission, recommended for ages 4 and up. Tickets range from $25-$35 are available online at ASF.net and through the ASF box office at 334-271-5353.

The play takes place on ASF’s Octagon Stage. “The scenic design team is doing an incredible job transforming the Octagon into a magical winter wonderland space,” said Fanning. "I think that when audiences walk in, they’re going to automatically even before the show begins, feel transported to basically the North Pole. It’s a lot of fun as an actor to get to play in that space, especially with the set all around us. It’s going to be everywhere. You get to feel like you’re really interacting with the audience, instead of feeling separated like you are on the big festival stage. The audience is right there with you, and they’re going along in the story with you. Being able to see faces and reactions, all of that really helps to feed the energy of a place like this.”

There are a wealth of characters in this story who are very, very interesting. "There is a hobgoblin who changes shape and does all sorts of mischief,” said Fanning. "We have a reindeer who is a hilarious, hilarious character. We have a raven who jumps in and helps Gerda out in her time of need."  

The cast for this show is ASF's yearlong intern company, who have been working together on projects since August. Along with Fanning, Treacy and Wulff (who also plays Ulf), it includes Josh Cann (Halvard, Marigold, Baker, Man), Ithamar Francios (Grandfather, Rose, Jarl, Ingolf), Brian Ott (Ansgar, Snapdragon, Ragnvald, Varg), Woodrow Proctor (Hemming) and Collin Purcell (Edvin, Fisherman, Tulip, Trygve).

"The first thing we did was a tour of ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’ This is the exact same cast as that tour,” said Fanning.  "We’re all in very different roles for this show. We’re getting to try different things on stage and work different muscles. It’s really fun to get to see another side of everybody after we’ve been working together for so many months. We all get along very well. It’s a very fun rehearsal process, and I think the show is going to be very fun for us to do together."

IF YOU GO

What: "Snow Queen"

Where: Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Octagon Theatre

When: Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 6-Feb. 3

Tickets: $25-$35 at ASF.net, 334-271-5353, or at the ASF Box Office at One Festival Drive, Montgomery. (Groups of ten or more receive discounts by calling Stan Thomas at 334-271-5330)