SUNDAY NIGHT - Our own hometown entertainment is superb

Posted 2/22/01

SUNDAY NIGHT - Our own hometown entertainment is superb

SUNDAY NIGHT MaryHelen Swanson, editor
If youíre as tired of this winter as I am, hereís a bit of magic to warm your heart and delight your soul and itís available this coming weekend.

Iím talking about the North Branch Area Community Theatreís production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I attended the play last Sunday afternoon, and as I pen my Sunday Night column Iím excited about the quality of the performance and the affect it had on the audience, young and old.

The play was superb with colorful costumes, great staging, well-worked special effects, and actors and actresses who knew their lines.

The audience- many families, very young children and a goodly number of grandmas and grandpas- found the production as exciting as I did. This was attested to by the squeals of delight from the wee ones, the positive comments from the adults and the enthusiastic applause from them all.

The adorable little girl behind me summed it up pretty well at the end of the performance with her assuring words, ìthe princess wasnít dead after all.î

No one was dead in this production. Not the king - robust in red and looking very appropriately like a fairy tale monarch. Not the delightful snow nymphs, white, light and glittery, flitting delicately around the stage in the magical forest.

Not the trees (wood nymphs), including the one who sneezed during a quiet interlude. Not even the rock, yes, we noticed the rock.

There were moments of tenderness such as when King Goodheart (Doug Karsky) cuddled his newborn, motherless daughter and crooned ìwhat am I gonna doî while facing the prospect of raising his little princess alone.

There was a nice transformation scene when the young child Snow White grew into a young woman, both parts played well by NBACT veterans Hannah Franzmeier and Nicole Swanson. With her rosy cheeks, red lips, and dark hair Swanson looked as if she just stepped out of the pages of a Walt Disney book.

The play has romance, dramatic conflict and plenty of humor, an outstanding prescription for the cure of of cabin fever.

Eviana (Sherry Pearce) was bad to the bone, and that was good. She let no nasty deed escape her in her attempt to be the one and only ìfairestî damsel in the kingdom. And her raven sidekick was a clever addition.

And then there were those seven dwarfs. Iím not going to say too much about these ìfellasî except to say youíve got to see them to believe them. Suffice it to say they would make Tim Conway proud, following in his footsteps (pun intended) quite well. Youíll see what Iím talking about if you catch the play this weekend.

There was just enough music to keep the production lively, although the sound could have been a little better. The staging was super and . . . oh, gosh, Iím running out of adjectives. It was just plain good and a wonderful way to spend a cold, Sunday afternoon.

There are three performances left, Friday and Saturday night, Feb. 23 and 24 at 7 p.m., and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., Feb. 25.

These last three performances will be part of North Branch Area Chamberís first-ever Winter Festival set for this weekend. Thereís an exciting lineup of winter activities, mostly on Saturday, but some on Sunday, too. (See schedule on page 19). Thereís everything from a Pine Wood Derby at Abundant Life church to the Hockey Association Pancake Breakfast at the American Legion (both days).

Thereís ice sculpturing, hot air balloon rides, softball in the snow, and a Chili Showdown which might be the ìhottestî event of them all. And of course, donít forget the icy excitement of the Tanger SnoCross both days.

It all starts with the medallion hunt today (Wednesday), and if you have a Winter Festival button, you not only can get in on some good deals at local businesses, but youíll take home a tidy sum of money if you find the medallion.

If the winter doldrums have got you down, my friends, hereís the opportunity to shake them off and warm up to some local community fun.

Remember, when this exciting weekend is over - itís all downhill to spring. Thank goodness!