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| The Snow Queen story |
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If the story is not displaying properly below please download this pdf:  The Snow Queen Story Prologue The Mirror The Snow Queen’s sprites are overseeing the creation of a magic mirror carved from ice. The Snow Queen arrives and as the mirror is finally unveiled, the beautiful Snow Queen is horrified to find that instead of seeing herself reflected in eternal winter, the mirror reveals Kay and Gerda, in love, in a summer landscape. Furious, The Snow Queen shatters the mirror and begins to plan the return of eternal Winter. Act I The Village, Summer Kay and Gerda, who lives with her Grandmother, have grown up together. Gerda and Kay dance happily and greet Grandmother who helps them tend the white and red roses they have planted together. After Kay and Gerda’s friends arrive, they are interrupted by a group of gypsies begging. The friends shun them, but Gerda feels sorry for their leader, a young girl like herself. Feeling a sudden sharp chill in the air, Grandmother wraps Gerda up warmly. The gypsies are driven away by the friends, but Gerda gives the Gypsy Girl her shawl. As the friends depart, Gerda and Grandmother go inside, leaving Kay alone as snow begins to fall. Kay’s Room, Winter Winter has arrived more severely than ever. Kay is trying to light a fire, when suddenly a mysterious light begins to fill the room. The Snow Queen appearing at the window, enters. Kay is mesmerised by her beauty and is frozen to the spot. As the Snow Queen commands slivers of ice to pierce his heart and his eye, Kay collapses to the floor, the room disappears and the Snow Queen vanishes. Grandmother discovering Kay prostrate in the snow, calls to Gerda, who helps her carry Kay inside. The Village, a few days later The villagers gather and enjoy the snow, joined by Gerda and Grandmother. Kay arrives, but a change has come over him. He disrupts the festivities and taunts Gerda and Grandmother. Gerda tries to shake Kay out of the black mood that has mysteriously overtaken him but he destroys her precious roses, strikes her to the ground and runs away as Gerda calls after him. The Snow Queen abducts Kay Kay joins the other boys playing and starts to spoil their games. The boys reject Kay and abandon him as darkness descends, and he realises he is lost. The Snow Queen appears out of the blackness. At first Kay is afraid, but he is gradually overwhelmed by her beauty. She beckons him to her and kisses him. Kay feels a sudden rush of intense pain, but moments later he can no longer feel the cold. The Snow Queen enfolds Kay and lifts him up into the frozen night sky. Act II The Village, a few weeks later Eternal winter has descended on the village. Kay has disappeared without trace and Gerda is heartbroken. Unable to rest, Gerda and Grandmother desperately search for him. Exhausted, Gerda collapses in the snow and drifts into a deep sleep. In her dream it is summer again. Gerda dreams of the Roses, who tell her that Kay is not dead as they cannot see him in the earth. Suddenly, Kay appears to Gerda and they express their love for each other. As Kay begins to disappear from Gerda’s dream, she is left cold and alone in the snow. The Snow Queen’s Palace Meanwhile, Kay has been transported to the Snow Queen’s Palace and stands in awe, watching as the Snow Queen sits on her magnificent throne in the middle of a frozen lake, surrounded by shattered ice from her mirror. Dispelling any lingering memories of Gerda, the Snow Queen distracts Kay by summoning her Ice Maidens and Courtiers. The Snow Queen dances for Kay who watches fascinated. Kay tries to join the Snow Queen as his desire for her increases, but is prevented from doing so by her minions. Knowing the task to be impossible the Snow Queen tells Kay that in order to gain his freedom, he must first show his devotion by completing the puzzle, and place all the shattered pieces of ice in their rightful place in her mirror. As Kay begins his endless and impossible task, the Snow Queen looks on triumphantly. Act III Gerda and the Gypsies Gerda is still lying in the snow. Suddenly, she is surrounded by a group of gypsies led by an old woman and the Gypsy Boy, who threaten her. Gerda is very frightened but the Gypsy Girl emerges from the group and protects Gerda. Whilst warming themselves around a fire, the gypsies dance, getting more excited and drunk as night falls. In despair, Gerda begs the Gypsy girl to free her and help her in her search for Kay. Making sure that the other gypsies, having drunk their fill, are all asleep, the Gypsy girl secretly gives Gerda the gypsies’ Reindeer. As Gerda sets off on her journey north, the Gypsy Girl waves goodbye, sad to see her new friend go. The Journey Gerda and the Reindeer travel to the far northern wastes. They meet the mysterious and reclusive Lapland woman, who tells Gerda to keep travelling north where she will find the Snow Queen’s Palace. The Snow Queen’s Palace Arriving at the Snow Queen’s Palace, Gerda sees Kay sitting sad and alone, almost completely frozen beneath the mirror. He has completed the puzzle except for the final two missing pieces. As Gerda tries to approach Kay, she is stopped by the Snow Queen, who, aided by her minions, blocks her way. Eventually, Gerda, with courage inspired by her love, runs to Kay, embraces him and starts to sob. Gerda’s hot tears melt Kay’s heart and the first sliver of broken mirror falls from his chest. Kay suddenly recognises Gerda, and remembering his love for her, also begins to weep, causing the second sliver to fall from his eye. Seizing the two slivers, Gerda triumphantly gives the pieces to Kay, who places them into the mirror, which releases him from the Snow Queen’s spell. As the Snow Queen’s power is destroyed and her Palace begins to melt around them, Gerda and Kay express their joy as the seasons change from winter through to summer, and they find themselves back home in their village. The Village In a final dance of celebration, Kay and Gerda are reunited with Grandmother and their friends. Generously supported by David Lloyd and a syndicate of individual donors. |
London Coliseum
8 - 17 January 2010
Scenario
Michael Corder
Freely adapted from the fairy tale by
Hans Christian Andersen
Choreography and direction
Michael Corder
Music
Serge Prokofiev
Arrangement
Julian Philips
Design
Mark Bailey
Lighting
Paul Pyant
8 - 17 January 2010
Scenario
Michael Corder
Freely adapted from the fairy tale by
Hans Christian Andersen
Choreography and direction
Michael Corder
Music
Serge Prokofiev
Arrangement
Julian Philips
Design
Mark Bailey
Lighting
Paul Pyant
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