UTAH BALLET AND THE CHARACTER DANCE ENSEMBLE; "The Snow Maiden," at Kingsbury Hall, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. Additional performances Dec. 4-5, 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 5. Tickets range from $10-$20 and can be purchased at the Kingsbury Hall box office, all ArtTix outlets or by calling 581-7100 or 355-ARTS (2787).
"The Snow Maiden" is a delightful production about love and sacrifice.The Utah Ballet Company and the Character Dance Ensemble have taken this folk tale that was made into a play by Alexander Ostrovsky and brought it to the dance stage. And taking the idea that bore the original dance production a couple of years ago, the company and production crew have made it a bigger and bolder performance.
The 16-foot-tall puppets of the Czar, Fairy Spring, Father Frost and Yarilo brought a fairy-tale feel to the performance. These mobile gargantuans had moveable mouths, eyebrows, arms and heads (controlled by puppeteers) that literally brought them to life.
The dancers interacted with these "beings" like young children frolicking with their parents.
As for the dancing, the beginning variations did have some frayed ends, but as the night continued, the ensembles got tighter and more together. This was especially true during the Slavic folk dancing that was intertwined throughout the production. The technique carried the variations.
The Snow Maiden's character, known as Snegurochka -- danced by Crystal Stone -- was lilting, innocent and danced with nice extentions and straight lines.
The jilted lover, Kupava, was danced by Lisa Machen, who was full of energy and, with her fickle boyfriend Mizgir -- Michael Bearden -- stole the carnival scene in the first act. In fact, it was Machen's facial expressions and Bearden's puppy-dog look that sometimes diverted the audience members' eyes from the other happenings on stage. The smaller puppets -- Bobyl and Bobylika -- served as the comic relief. This cute couple became the parents to the Snow Maiden and were spry and endearing.
"The Snow Maiden" is fun for the whole family. And it tells the story of how love is selfless and can conquer the most distressing of circumstances.
In this case, the Snow Maiden sacrifices herself so the summer can once more bring bountiful harvests and warmth to her homeland.
It's a good message, presented by some creative minds and visually pleasing stage magic.