A seasonal favorite encores at Wamsutta

“The Harper and the Minstrel,” husband and wife Jay and Abby Michaels, play an astonishing variety of instruments from the past. Jay is a virtuoso of the harp but also plays string dulcimer and guitar, while Abby plays a variety of flutes, recorders and whistles as well as the hammer dulcimer and psalter. This past Saturday they brought their magic to the Wamsutta club as part of the Wepecket Island records “salon series.” For the fifth year, they focused on songs of the season, both winter and Christmas. Abby has a lovely soprano voice, though at times her facial gestures are a bit disconcerting. The sound they bring out of their historically correct instruments is haunting and peaceful, and the hour and half passed much too quickly. With food and drink available for purchase in a close-up homey setting, these first Saturday of the month concerts are a treat as well as a bargain.

Dorothy heads north: The Snow Queen at New rep

The latest offering at the New Rep is a musical adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story The Snow Queen, the story of a girl overcoming numerous trials to save her friend. The story line follows closely to the original fairy tale. If you have seen the original Wizard of Oz with Judy Garland, you will find enormous overlap: plucky young girl meeting numerous odd creatures, some friendly, some evil, and overcoming great odds to achieve her goal. The heroine, Gerda, even has special red shoes! The production relies heavily on the staging, which is beautifully done, with falling snowflakes and a magical sense to the backdrop. The cast are generally strong, with Victoria Britt making a very convincing pre-pubescent heroine. Maurice Parent has several scene-stealing moments, notably as The Old Crow/flyer with a British accent. Unfortunately the singing voices are not quite up to the task with the exception of Aimee Doherty as the Snow Queen, who has a wonderful voice. The production, at over two and a half hours with intermission, is a bit long and could be tightened. More hit than miss, and worth seeing.