The cast and crew of Chateauguay Valley Regional High School’s performing arts department proudly premiered their blazing-hot rendition of Frozen – The Musical before an auditorium filled with Grade 5 and 6 students on May 7.
Most of the cast would have been in kindergarten when the iconic movie was first released, and CVR’s dazzling production played up the magic while holding true to the original story’s infectious energy and underlying ode to the strength of family and sisterhood, while embracing the glittering spectacle of the Broadway musical.
The audience was whisked away to Arendelle, where young princesses Anna (Ashlyne Daoust) and Elsa (Alycia LePain) are forced to grow up separately after Elsa’s power to turn things to ice accidentally hurts her younger sister. The sisters are brought back together after their parents are lost at sea, only to be separated again when the grown Elsa (Peyton Welburn) flees the kingdom and an eternal winter sets in. Anna (Audrey Roberge) sets off to find her and is helped along the way by ice peddler Kristoff (Sam Fraser), his reindeer Sven (Ronan Ednie) and the lovable talking snowman Olaf (Grace MacDonald).
The acting was exceptional, the special effects were eye-popping, and the singing was spectacular. In a pivotal moment, for example, Elsa takes control of her powers and transforms her royal garb into a sparkling gown, mid-song, without skipping a beat. And not just any song. It was pure magic to watch Welburn beam as she closed out Act 1 alone on stage, singing the final notes of ‘Let it Go’ while accompanied by a spontaneous chorus of young singers from the student audience.
Directors Lynn Harper, Dawna Babin, and Erika Rosenbaum noted that their version of the hit musical reflected the unique voices of their remarkable cast and crew. A testament to the casting abilities of the directing team, this show sets the bar high as the performing arts department enters its third decade.
“There was a lot of pressure,” said Babin, while noting that for students who grew up with the movie, the notion of bringing this production to life was extra magical. “We had to do it justice,” she explained.
Staging such a technically demanding show with a large class of 33 students was “a challenge,” admitted Harper, but it was worth every snowflake. “The cast really outdid themselves,” she added, before suggesting that taking on such legendary characters was akin to singing the national anthem. “If you get the words right, or if you get the words wrong, everyone is going to know,” she laughed.
And there are a lot of songs. “It’s a gigantic show,” Harper acknowledged. “But you know, when I teach them, I never say this is complicated. I say this is going to be a challenge. Let’s all enjoy this challenge,” she said. At the beginning of the process, students are often nervous and unsure of themselves, and over the year, they grow into the show. “It’s those moments that make us really happy when they stand up and they shine,” she added.
Babin and Rosenbaum also credit the stage and technical crew and the volunteers backstage for helping to create much of the magic. They also noted the students’ attitudes and general kindness and caring for one another helped to carry the show.
“I think we all pulled it off extremely well,” said Roberge, who admitted there was pressure to bring “that cartoonish, animated energy to the stage, and to keep it up. We wanted to live up to those expectations and live up to the characters and to that legacy!” she exclaimed.
Océane Hampson, who played Bulda of the Hidden People, suggested their version, which integrated songs from Frozen 2 and the Broadway musical, may have had a bigger impact on audiences because they didn’t know exactly what to expect.
The cast generally agreed that what was happening on stage was complemented by their ability to work together behind the curtain. “This is by far the greatest group I have been a part of,” said Ednie, who spent much of the production in a very warm reindeer costume. “Everybody would give me their chair, cover me with fans, and bring me water. It was just amazing how we helped each other through everything,” he explained.
“It is a good experience to have people that genuinely believe in you, and I think everyone does in this group,” added Welburn.
“We have been in each other’s classes over the years, but this year brought us all together to do something as one class,” said Jared Knox, who played the Duke of Weselton. “As a final act of our final year, it was really nice.”