It is exactly ten years since the Disney film “Frost” melted millions of hearts around the world. The film was something completely new: a Nordic tale and a different love story from Disney where the bond between sisters could overcome everything. But also a story about active girls and about liberation – daring to let loose. Therefore, the new lyrics to the hit “Let it go” are almost more correct in Nynorsk: “Det må ut!” sing Mimmi Tamba in the role of Elsa. The text conveys an active attitude to how to deal with the unruly: It has to come out, I let it out, it’s an active choice. But in the big, frozen theater world on stage, there is little warmth, little play and little “Broadway-schwung” to trace. Elsa, Anna and Olaf still save the foresight. HEART-WARMING: Much cold separates the two sisters Elsa and Anna. But true love can thaw many a frozen heart. All for love in “Frost” when Kristoffer jumps to the moon and back. In this scene, the effects sit like a shot. Photo: Siren Høyland Sæter/Det Norske Teatret Kristoffer (Vegard Bjørsmo) and the reindeer Svein (Kaja Varjord) are of course ready for adventure. Forget the movie The Nordic premiere of the musical “Frost” is a special version of the Broadway musical. The script and music are the same, but the direction and scenography are free to do it differently than in the original. But the children who come get a musical that is visually quite different from the film many of them know well. The Broadway and West End versions of “Frost” were closely linked to the film in expression, among other things with digital frost magic effects. This is not the case at Det Norske Teatret. For a child, it will mean, among other things, that the cute little trolls from the film are not there. These have been replaced by a long-haired, mysterious and veiled Huldre people. They still sing the cheerful song “Alle treng og bli fiksa up litt”, but the whole creepy huldre trick is probably not so successful for a keen “Frost” fan of five or six years. TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE: Massive ice when Anna (Ina Svenningdal) and Kristoffer (Vegard Bjørsmo) climb the road to find Elsa. The sets in “Frost” are so large that they barely fit on the main stage at the Norwegian Theatre. Photo: Det Norske Teatret In addition, the scenography has a mammoth character: Both the house and the ice are large and impenetrable structures that somehow make the huge main stage at Det Norske Teatret seem small and cramped. It is almost well done to achieve. Olaf saves the day At the same time, the ensemble seems small for such a big musical. The reuse of shoe players is keen, not until the king and queen of Arendell have died in an accident, then they appear in new roles. For the child who gets this, it must be confusing. They could use a few extra shoe players in such a large rig. It would have given a bit more of a Broadway feel. At the same time: here are things to be happy about. FLINKE: Thelma Advocaat and Noela Rose Skalstad as Anna and Elsa open the screening with one of the most well-known songs from the film, with new Norwegian lyrics. Photo: Jorri Kristjánsson Mimmi Tamba and Ina Svenningsdal give good performances in the lead roles as Disney sisters, says news’s critic. Photo: Det Norske Teatret The musical starts straight away with the delightful “Would you like to join in building a snowman?”, and the children’s roles, especially Anna (played by Thelma Advocaat at the premiere) is a charming princess version of Pippi Longstocking. Ina Svenningdal as Anna and Mimmi Tamba as Elsa have found their own way into the familiar roles, and it works well. Olaf is warmly and cheerfully played by Mathias Augestad Ambjør, he preserves the close and familiar in the vision. SKIN: Olaf is a big favorite in the screening, and Mathias Augestad Ambjør leads the way with a rich and finely detailed performance. Here in a proper snowman scene. Photo: Jorri Kristjánsson / Det Norske Teatret Kristoffer (Vegard Bjørsmo) is popular with the young audience and gradually settles into the role. Mathias Luppichini as the sleazy Prince Hans gets little time to go from hero to villain. He is still well casta. The most important ones – Olaf, Elsa and Anna – are in place. Then you can agree to a lot. And the foresight is clever enough to have some goosebump scenes in the right places. This particularly applies to the scene where Olaf dreams of summer, and the scene where Elsa sings “It must come out”. It is spectacular. CLIMAX: Mimmi Tamba is terrific in the hit “Det må ut”, perhaps the highlight of the musical. The snow is made of cellulose – that means you can eat it if you want. Photo: Det Norske Teatret Brave enough? But it is too far between the high points in the musical. Director Gísli Örn Garðarsson is fond of effects, and sometimes they take up too much space. There is a bit of looting with cords when the skaters have to be secured before airy floats and lifts, and it’s not all that pays off. But when Kristoffer runs to the moon and back to reach Anna, it’s nice. Icelandic Garðarsson will direct this musical in several countries – first in Norway, then at other large theaters in the Nordics. There is a sauna scene here that clearly appeals to the Finnish audience, but “Frost” has less of a Sami feel than I had expected, all the while the Sami National Theater has been involved in the development of the presentation in Oslo. I had thought the Norwegian Theater would be braver here, minority theater as they are. HERO AND VILLAIN: Ina Svenningsdal and Mathias Luppichini on stage. The latter solves the role of the villainous Prince Hans in a good way, despite the fact that the character has to go through an abrupt turn from good to evil. Photo: Jorri Kristjánsson Vegard Bjørsmo as Kristoffer in “Frost”. Photo: Siren Høyland Sæter/Det Norske Teatret Trolla from the film is replaced by a hollow-like people in the Nordic musical version of “Frost”. Photo: Siren Høyland Sæter/Det Norske Teatret “Taiming” When it was ready for applause, it was the technicians who entered the stage first. And that was all that was missing. Because there is a large machinery that is in motion to bring about all the magic in this vision. Garðarsson is known for creating playful and powerful presentations. But there is no room for so much play here. Many of the shoe players seem to be concentrating on “timing” the effects. It becomes too massive and too far between the high points to call “Frost” really solid. But when the magic is allowed to strike, when it doesn’t get too crowded and when Olaf gets to own the room, then you understand what kind of heart-melting power the theater can hold. news reports: Title: “Frost” Location: Det Norske Teatret Premiere: 14 October 2023 Music and lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez Screenplay: Jennifer Lee Based on the Disney film by: Jennifer Lee (directed by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck) Production: Runar Gudnason Director: Gísli Örn Garðarsson Scenographer: Börkur Jónsson Music manager and orchestration for The Norwegian Theatre: Svenn Erik Kristoffersen Costume designer: Christina Lovery Choreographer: Belinda Braza Lighting designer: Torkel Skjærven Sound designer: Morten Alexander Jorsett Puppet designer: Marthe Brandt Playwright: Anders Hasmo and Ingrid Weme Nilsen Assistant directors: Louise Grimstad Waarli and Inga Oskarsdottir Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical productions and originally directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage Cast: Mimmi Tamba as Elsa Ina Svenningdal as Anna Julie Moe Sandø as Elsa Tiril Heide-Steen as Anna Mathias Augestad Ambjør as Olaf Vegard Bjørsmo as Kristoffer Mathias Luppichini as Hans, etc. Kaia Varjord as Svein, etc. Sisi Sumbundu as Queen Idun, etc. Joakim H. Ousdal as King Agnar, etc., understudy Kristoffer/Hans Jan-Christian “Janki” Horntvedt as Pabbie, among others Julie Støp Husby as Bulda, among others Niklas Gundersen as Kramkaren Eika, among others Petter Winther as Ekle, among others Hilde Olausson as Tenestejente, among others Martha Standal as Tenestejente, among others Ellen Birgitte Winther as Tenesjente, etc. Øyvin Berven as Bishop, etc. Benjamin Hiley as Lakei, etc. Elise Berg-Hansen as Byfolk, ball guest, etc. Thelma Advocaat as Anna as a child India Johanna Mydske as Anna as a child Savannah Isabelle von Nyegaard Meidell-Clausen as Anna as a child Ester Guadalupe Støten Vargas as Elsa as a child Iben Nerland MacDonald as Elsa as a child Noela Rose Skalstad Elsa as a child
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“Frost” at the Norwegian Theater – Reviews and recommendations
