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Peer Reviews Warm Up To Frozen By Julia Leist Entire contents are copyright © 2007 Julia Leist. All rights reserved.
The ancient Greeks used theatre to achieve catharsis, to illuminate the dark pits of humanity in order to find peace, to heal, and ultimately to become a better individual, ergo better society member. We, the people of the modern age, desire entertainment, seek out pleasure and laughter (who was it that said laughter is the best medicine?). Whatever your particular aesthetic philosophy might be, both are equally important; the former, however, is often pushed so far past the back burner that it falls off of the stove top and is swept right under the proverbial rug. So, why, on a literally "frozen" evening, in the depth of a particularly sad and arctic February, would anyone want to submit themselves to an unnerving, emotionally disturbing play? Because The Wayward Actors Company's production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen is the best piece of local theatre I have seen this season. Three lives intertwine in the icescape of this masterfully written piece of drama. When serial killer Ralph Wantage is caught mid-abduction, all hope Nancy Shirley has for the safe return of her missing daughter withers and dies. In jail, a cold and confused Ralph is submitted to regular sessions with forensic psychiatrist Agnetha. While attempting to understand the mysterious mind of a murderer, Agnetha finds that she isn't so different from her subject. Frozen in their inability to forgive, these three seemingly different characters realize that in order to move on, to let go and to find some form of peace, they must face their demons. Jennifer Shanks' portrayal of suffering mother
Nancy Shirley is breathtaking and powerful. She
commands the ears, the eyes and the empathy of
the audience. It's hard to believe that this is
Jennifer's first stage work in two years; she brought
to this character a genuine sense of pain, desperation
and absolute strength. The casting is superb --
the actors (Elaine Hackett and Joe Hatfield) vanish
behind the veil of their characters, leaving on
stage people with real histories, failings and
quirks. It is an intimate story, performed in an intimate space, and done with such subtle grace that, though it won't make you jump and skip through the lobby, it will make you think. A vast majority of the population may be tired of thinking -- after all, there is a lot to worry about -- but Frozen poses questions about personal judgments and values that may be hard to confront but are necessary in the development of an individual. So, back to the original question at hand: Why
see Frozen? If solid writing, directing
and performing are not adequate enough, if you
think you think too much and just don't want to
think anymore, then go see Frozen because
it reminds us that even in the darkest winter there
is always the promise of spring. Frozen February 22, 23 and 24, 2007, at 8 pm Posted Feb. 19, 2007
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