This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour was invited to see The Snowman by The Rep.
By Dave Massey twitter.com/brumhour
This production contains some audience participation.
Review: The Snowman at The Rep, Birmingham
Directed by Bill Alexander, Music and Lyrics by Howard Blake
A boy (played at this performance by the excellent Ethan Sokontwe) discovers magic is everywhere when it snows one day in his town as The Snowman makes a welcome return to The Rep with its anniversary version of this production.
Joining Ethan at this performance was Martin Fenton as The Snowman. There is a large cast of talented performers who provide their own versions of the well-known characters from Raymond Briggs book and Dianne Jackson film.
There’s something wonderfully comforting about The Snowman that enchants children and provides a bit of baton passing from one generation to the next. The first half covers the boys building of the snowman, him coming to life and then the boy inviting him in to the house to explore. The second half takes place in snowy woods where The Snowman and the boy meet other Snowmen and Snowwomen from other cultures around the world.
I don’t think some of the representations fit properly into 2022 given they are broken down to their nations stereotypes. The “English” snowman doesn’t have his own national stereotype so it is a bit strange to see the others presented as their own countries like this. There’s also a strange moment where The Snowman dances with the Ice Princess and seems to fight for her attention instead of hanging out with the boy that created him.
Those moments aside, I adored seeing Walking in the Air play out with the boy and The Snowman taking flight, the dancing and choreography was excellent throughout and there’s a real fun element.
Ironically in an audience mostly wearing masks and with a cast wearing costumes that cover their faces, it is left to young Ethan to communicate his feelings through his performance and he has a lot to do. The orchestra and the music cues really assisted the performance I’m sure the young people loved seeing the music created live throughout.
Don’t forget this is a production with no dialogue and there is only one other song apart from hearing Aled Jones’ Walking in the Air play. The rest is the orchestra’s wonderful instrumentals.
This production runs at one hour and fifty minutes including around twenty minutes for an interval. A perfect amount of time for those not used to sitting still.
Simply magical The Snowman is at The Rep until 9th January 2022. Book tickets here: birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-snowman.
