Frozen

Frozen
Pre-Broadway Engagement
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
August 17 - October 1, 2017

With Frozen, it’s hard to imagine that Disney Broadway doesn’t have a hit on their hands. After all, this new stage musical is based on the highest grossing animated film of all time. I saw the show on opening night and the excitement in the crowd was contagious.

The show started with music similar to the opening scene of the movie, but quickly diverged to a different story. We were introduced to the “Hidden Folk” who replaced the trolls in the show. These characters a puzzling. They appear to be indigenous people, but their attire would be more
appropriate in a tropical setting than the frozen north. The leader of the hidden folk acted as a narrator throughout. He was often difficult to understand, but he really wasn’t necessary in that capacity.

The cast of the show was fantastic. Anna was even sillier on stage than in the film. Elsa had a beautiful tone to her voice. Even the two young girls playing the princesses as children were incredible to watch. Before they built the snowman onstage, both girls were awkwardly running offstage and bringing the props back with them. The show stopped for technical difficulties. When the girls reappeared, we saw that the set pieces the props were stored on had not come out, so the girls did what they had to so the show would go on.

Olaf the snowman was a puppet with the actor voicing him clearly visible, It was the same convention used in The Lion King for Timon. It was a bit disappointing that Disney was not more innovative for this show. Sven the reindeer was a costume which was slightly awkward around the back legs. But the actor inside worked well in the role.

When a show is already beloved as Frozen the costumes couldn’t be a radical departure from the film. They didn’t disappoint. There are a few new additions – Anna borrowed a green snow suit before donning her burgundy and blue “trekking” outfit. Elsa also had a new dress in Act 2. While it wasn’t as spectacular as her ”ice dress,” it was perfect for her.

The sets were relatively simple. There was no castle rising from the ground during “Let It Go.” But overall the lighting and set pieces created the right mood for each scene. We were even treated to an ice bridge above the stage.

The songs added for the show were not as impactful as the ones from the movie. Most of them add character development for the four main characters. “Monster” from Act 2 was the most memorable, but having Elsa caught by Hans immediately at the end of the song took away much of the power of the song. The original songs really shone. And “Let It Go” at the end of Act 1 left me with goosebumps.

The show was enjoyable, but it still needs a bit of work. Act 2 dragged and I could hear the restlessness of the enthusiastic audience. "Hygge" is a strange start to Act 2 with the ensemble appearing to be naked and covering themselves with leaves as if in a sauna.

Fans of Frozen will love this show. It’s not an innovative staging of the show but considering the popularity of the film, it’s likely to have a huge following when it arrives on Broadway next spring.