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.