Frozen at the Pantages

I got to watch Frozen, the hit broadway musical 2 weeks ago at the Pantages.  I was not sure how to feel before seeing it.  I know I liked the animated original version Disney released but I was not sure if I will end up liking the stage version too.

Let me first off say that it was very entertaining!  The songs that we loved are of course in the show and they have added new songs.  Frankly, I feel luke warm on the new songs.  Perhaps I just need to hear it more to develop a liking.  There were 3 musical numbers that I particularly enjoyed.

Of course the "Let It Go" number was to be expected as a hit.  I honestly did not know how they would create a stage version of the magic Elsa did to build the ice castle.  And may I say it turned out very realistic.  The costume transformation from Elsa's normal dress to the bedazzled sequined light blue dress was a big crowd-pleaser.   It brought "OOHH" and "AAHHH" from the crowd along with enthusiastic applause.

Then there was the diverting "In Summer" musical number by Olaf.  It was just pure genius how they created Olaf on stage.  It was not a man inside the Olaf costume but a man behind the Olaf puppet.  So the actor controlled the movement of Olaf and he sings/talks while moving Olaf's mouth.  There was no attempt to hide the actor behind the puppet Olaf.  He was dress in white snow outfit and his face was producing the same expressions as the Olaf puppet.  It was just fun to see.

The third musical number that I found quite delightful was the "Love Is an Open Door" song by Anna and Hans.  It helped that Hans was so handsome and princely.  It was at times comical but it did not take away from the delightfulness of the number.  There was some light dancing and good singing to the tenderness of the song.   I almost believed that it was really the beginning of young love.

I would have love this show more if it was not for the unorthodox casting the production decided to do.  The production made Kristoff as a black man.  I wanted to see Kristoff on stage to somewhat look like the Kristoff on the animated version.  The production also changed the lyrics of the song "Fixer Upper" by taking away any reference to Kristoff's blond hair.   Our Kristoff was a good actor and he sang/danced well so it was not a deal breaker in the end.

I do applaud that the production opened the door to ethnic actors but I am just not a big fan of blind casting.  If I watch King and I, I want to see an Asian King of Siam.  Not Yul Brynner.  If I watch Color Purple, I want to see black characters.  I do not care to see Lea Salonga, an Asian actress, to play Eponine in Les Miserables.  Eponine was a French woman and she ought to be a white woman.  I suppose I just could not let it go.

In summary, an amusing magical show and a successful transformation of a much beloved animated story to stage.  I give it 4 stars out of 5.