Frozen Review (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London)

20 July 2024 I 19:00 I Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London

⭐⭐⭐⭐

As Disney's Frozen enters it's final few weeks at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, I couldn't resist seeing this family favourite upon one of London's biggest stages. I didn't particularly grow up with Disney, nor have I seen the Frozen film, though this musical is one of the most certain crowd pleasers I have ever witnessed. The joy inside the auditorium is something truly irreplaceable. Running at approximately 2hrs 15mins, time flies in this spectacular, ending my London trip with a generously warming production.

Christopher Oram's set is the first to catch my attention in all of it's grand enormity. From palaces dripping with jewels to an ice bridge three times the length of the stage, I can only imagine how special this must be for younger audiences, the vision is impressive beyond words! However, the flow can suffer from fatigue at times, a lot of set changes that need time to take in ahead of the next. The budget can perhaps sabotage the purpose of the show, choosing to dazzle over the heart of the performances.

In opening scenes, India Moon and Phoebe Penfold portray Young Anna & Elsa, absolute dynamite to introduce a large West End musical. In establishing their characters, this pair welcome a delightful humour, but also foreground a fractured relationship between the sisters (supported by Jeremy Chernick's majestic special effects), really mature performances with a bright future!

Samantha Barks lights up the stage as Elsa, a real-life princess for all to admire! The ecstasy that follows Let It Go creates such a beautiful atmosphere going into the interval. It is clear to see how much the musical means to younger audiences, some opting to dress as their favourite character to attend the show, where Barks' elegant performance is indefinitely inspiring.

I must mention Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly's Anna, nailing every quirk through the character's optimism and impulsive decisions. Executing impressive vocals with ease, her role represents the big kid in all of us, a loveable journey to showcases compassion towards all. We undoubtably need recognition for David Brian Brown's hair design, magnificent in royal stylings. Additionally as Anna succumbs to the cold, the progression this wig endures is really special.

Translating to the stage, Rob Ashford's choreography has such a strength to it, exuding endless stamina in an array of styles. One sequence features a blizzard, enacted by the ensemble to swarm those inside. Ashford's movement work therefore becomes embedded within the storytelling to emphasise Hans' unnerving intentions, portrayed with great intensity by Oliver Ormson.

Adding to the visual amazement, Michael Curry's puppetry designs for Olaf and Sven (snowman and reindeer) appear so full of life, immensely popular with the children of the audience. The magical aura rendered by Frozen is unlike any other show, and reflecting on Adam Rowe's graceful musical direction, a trip to Arendelle could not possibly disappoint.

Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen (as I prepare to feature in the Lincoln Arts Centre Christmas production), Frozen does exactly what you expect, gifted the classic Disney charm. It may not be ground-breakingly innovative in its theatricality, though inherently successful and bursting with love. You will be picking 'snow' out of your hair for the rest of the evening, but I am extremely lucky to have witnessed Michael Grandage's adaptation before it closes, a recommendable musical to any demographic!