Vato Tsikurishvili (left) and Maryam Najafzada (proper) in Synetic Theater’s “Snow Maiden” 2022. Photograph by Johnny Shryock.
Based mostly on the Nineteenth-century folktale “Snegurochka” by Alexander Ostrovsky, “Snow Maiden” is a brand new manufacturing created and directed by Helen Hayes Award-winning choreographer and Synetic Co-Founder, Irina Tsikurishvili. In a 180-degree flip, following their beautiful manufacturing of “Dracula,” Synetic provides us an equally mystical story of companionship, loss, and renewal however this time on the brilliant and hopeful finish of the emotional spectrum. “Snow Maiden” is beautiful, humorous, and heat—and a novel and ideally suited household theatre occasion for this vacation season.
…pretty, humorous, and heat—and a novel and ideally suited household theatre occasion for this vacation season.
Excessive within the mountains and deep in a snow-covered forest, a unprecedented friendship involves a lonely boy who hopes for a good friend. On Christmas morning, he builds a companion from snow, a Snow Maiden introduced magically to life. Their friendship blossoms till the snow begins to soften round them. Maryam Najafzada, lately seen as a bride of Dracula, reveals her versatility because the charmingly mischievous Snow Maiden. A classically-trained ballerina, Najafzada is the right counterpart to Vato Tsikurishvili as The Boy. Performing with out phrases, the 2 actors make all of the jokes humorous, shine on one another with heat and respect, and create a pleasant vacation present for the viewers. Tsikurishvili excels at conventional mime and clowning—the athletic comedy essential to make a pantomime work. The viewers gasped greater than as soon as at his gymnastic efficiency. A ballet duet between the 2 characters within the snow is a spotlight of the manufacturing.
The play opens on technical director Phil Charlwood’s easy however stunning set. It provides us the sensation of wanting by means of a keyhole into the tiny room of The Boy, surrounded by the icy forest lit by single blue star. Peter Leibold VI’s lighting design captures the sensation of the chilly, mountain vista concurrently with the heat of the tiny room. Kasey Brown’s costumes are muted however pretty and resonant with fairy story attraction.
The enchanting rating combines vacation classics and music by resident composer, Koki Lortkipanidze. You’ll hear strains of “The Nutcracker” and “The First Noel” amid the unique compositions.
“Snow Maiden” is an enthralling vacation present household and mates of all ages will take pleasure in. Younger kids particularly shall be engaged by the spirit of mischief the 2 characters evoke as they compete to make the largest snowball, catch magic spots of starlight, and ice skate. With out giving an excessive amount of away, alternatives exist for light viewers participation designed with kids in thoughts.
Working time: Roughly 45 minutes with no intermission.
“Snow Maiden” runs by means of December 23, 2022 at Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22202. Performances are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 and obtainable on-line here. Storage parking is offered. Ticket holders are inspired to come back early for vacation music and winter-themed arts and crafts actions. COVID well being and security necessities: Patrons, employees, and ushers should put on a masks in all areas within the theatre until consuming or consuming.
