Review: The Snowman
Venue: The Lowry
Date Reviewed: 7th January 2008
It may feel a bit late to be watching Raymond Brigg’s festive favourite on a wet and cold January evening. But if you and your family are in need of a lift, this could be the show to chase away the New Year blues.
Think Matthew Bourne for kids with lashings of Christmas spirit and that’s exactly what you get in this dance/ballet piece from which has many new scenes added to Brigg’s original tale of a young boy’s Christmas Eve adventures.
For many in the audience on the night I attended, the opening bars of the hit song Walking In the Air was enough alone to leave them teary-eyed. But there is so much more to this magical production than mere nostalgia.
The live orchestra give the piece zip and emotion when at times, the pace flags. The dance scenes are brilliantly done but, like many of the scene changes may leave toddlers fidgeting, as they are not as tight as they could be.
But even with these minor flaws, once the boy (played with real panache by Archie Duffy) and the snowman (touchingly played by Ramon Diaz and Remy Martyn) fly together through the air, the show lifts itself above the odd pacing problem, leaving the audience in awe and wonder.
My companion, five year old Ella Walsh loved the scenes involving a beautiful ballerina but like me, she found the central relationship between the boy and his scarf wearing friend really touching, especially when they fly above the vast Lowry stage.
The huge icy set impressed many of the children in the audience as it really does transport you to another world. Although changes have been made to the original production, it would take a heart made of ice not to melt as you hear the iconic music accompanying this beautiful tale of friendship in this winter’s tale.
One young boy next to me clapped enthusiastically, beaming from ear to ear throughout. Christmas may be over, but this snowman will leave youngsters walking on air.
-Glenn Meads