Icy forecast for the new year (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Icy forecast for the new year

11:20am Monday 24th December 2007 in

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TAKING on the adaptation of a classic fairytale is no easy job, but Andy Willment is attempting it for his first adaptation. Andy, a longstanding member of the Chesham Bois Catholic Players, has put his own touch to Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, for the group's pantomime, visiting The Elgiva in January.

"I decided to have a go at an adaptation of The Snow Queen because it is such a powerful story, with a great set of characters. It was written in 1844 and it is still as vibrant and as well written as his other classic fairy tales," Andy says.

Andy's job was made harder by the fact that there are a number of different versions of The Snow Queen, as Andy explains: "When Hans Christian Andersen sent off his stories for translating, people put their own interpretations onto things.

"In one story, the word new was translated as green, so it became green. Also, the more modern versions have simplified the story, though others have stayed authentic to the original."

"It's been quite an effort to bring everything together, but it really looks like it has got the makings of a spectacular show."

Andy Willment

He continues: "Although all the versions I read differed in many ways, I have tried not to alter any of the core features, but have added bits just to make it work on stage.

"Because I am adapting it for the stage, there are certain things that we can't do, if only for the costs involved alone - for example, there are no flying sleighs - but I've tried to keep the core elements and added embellishments here and there.

"Hans Christian Andersen wrote the story in 17 days - it took me substanitally longer," Andy laughs.

In the classic story, the Snow Queen, played by newcomer Roseanne Please, is beautiful, but has a cold heart.

She steals a kind hearted boy named Kai (James Felix from Chesham), and takes him to her ice palace.

Kai's friend Gerda (Roisin Berditch from Pinner) sets out to rescue him, and begins a magical adventure, meeting wonderful people and animals before confronting the Snow Queen.

Andy says: "What struck me most about it is that it's a story about this little girl's struggle, she's determined, come what may, to find her friend.

"The kids are slightly shy of one another, which makes it ideal for the part."

The Chesham Bois Catholic Players are a friendly group, with both Roisin and James' families involved.

And Andy, who has been a member since he was young, adds: "My mum used to paint the scenery for all the shows, so we always used to help out.

"It's a good fun crowd to work for."

Part of Andy's individual touch to The Snow Queen is to add in traditional panto elements.

"We have the dame and plenty of "oh yes he does, oh no he doesn'ts"," Andy says.

He has also added more unique touches.

"I have been particular with the music, with some taken from an old Spanish film. I wanted it not to stop the action, but to help further the story on.

"It's a cracking good story. I've had to put humour into it, and the dancing (choreographed by Jonathan Schwarzmann) is funny too."

He adds: "This play comes at the right time. It's just after Christmas and things seem a bit empty again, so it brightens up the period.

"It's been quite an effort to bring everything together, but it really looks like it has got the makings of a spectacular show."

The Snow Queen is at The Elgiva Theatre, Chesham on Saturday, January 12 at 1.30pm and 5.30pm, Sunday, January 13 at 2.30pm, Friday, January 18 at 7.30pm and Saturday, January 19 at 1.30pm and 5.30pm. Details: 01494 582900 or www.elgiva.com