Towards the closing moments of Hans Christian Andersen’s magical The Snow Queen, the kindly grandmother reminds the rapt audience that life goes on and consequently, the merry band of players who have been immersed in the duel adventure – the imaginative theatrical accomplishment while simultaneously attending to such mundane needs as eating – injects a truism: “...their childhood is nearly over.” Implied is the choice to stunt their growth a la Peter Pan or to embrace its memory and build upon life’s lessons.

With this production, fearless Steve Hayes, founder of The Drama Studio, director and adapter of The Snow Queen, is demonstrating that the high quality of plays mounted in the Drama Studio’s miniature theater is transferrable to CityStage’s spacious amphitheater. Regardless of how seriously bitten – or not – is the cast of 69 by the acting bug, these young thespians exude a remarkable level of professionalism. Goofing off doesn’t cut it; self-discipline does. This attitude is embedded in The Drama Studio’s accomplishments.

There is nothing boring about The Snow Queen. The set design by Michael Minahan captures the fairy tale flavor while answering the play’s needs. The icy pinnacle borrows from Gilbraltar’s rock and the Matterhorn. Its massiveness is accentuated by delicate, silverlly saplings. Sound designers Dan Morbyrne and Mat Bussler let loose the icy blasts of wintry gales. Richard Latta’s lighting design complements moods that range from the joyful to the mysterious.

All of the above – actors and crew – fulfill their roles. There are star turns, bits of business, suspense, humor, and more, including an acknowledgment of Roman Polaski.

There is one factor that embraces The Snow Queen’s energy, the story’s plot, its shifting moods, and that is its eye candy stitched into every piece of cloth: Greta Breglio-Redman’s costumes. The imaginative tunics and head coverings, the bursts of colors, sharpen the characters – the tall and short flowers, snow spirits, captured boys, prince and princess, sleet, crow – all are not only wonderfully inventive but make sense.

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The Snow Queen plays today, Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 4 & 7:30 PM and

tomorrow, Sunday, December 11 at 3 and 6:30 PM.

FOR TICKETS:

CITY STAGE BOX OFFICE: 413-788-7033
$12 TO $20
APPROPRIATE FOR AGES 5 AND UP.