Frozen Jr

Frozen Jr a musical staged by Chorley Youth Theatre at Chorley Theatre, Dole Street, Chorley on Friday, 13th January, 2023.

In 2013 Disney produced yet another classic film … ‘FROZEN’ an enchanting modern-day musical with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez from a book by Jennifer Lee. This musical tells the story of two sisters ‘Elsa’ and ‘Anna’… both princesses who live in a magical kingdom called ‘Arendelle’. This is a story of ‘true love’ and the ‘emotional relationship’, between two sisters!  Elsa has magical powers which enables her to ‘freeze’ objects and people, powers that, when she was young, she wasn’t able to control.

When she inadvertently freezes the entire kingdom of Arendelle, almost killing her sister, Elsa decides to ‘run away’. But, when faced with danger, the two sisters discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood and friends! Frozen Jr is an adaptation of this film, bringing to life Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven, Kristoff and many more… loaded with magic, adventure and plenty of humour along the way… Frozen Jr is sure to ‘thaw’ the coldest heart!

Which little girl during the past ten years hasn’t dressed up and pretended to be either ‘Elsa’ or ‘Anna’ or sung around the house, ‘Let it Go’ or ‘Do you want to build a Snowman’! Which parent, grandparent (that includes me) hasn’t sat through the Frozen films many more times than they’d actually care to admit (me for one). The 2013 original film became the highest grossing animated film of all time, only to be overtaken in 2015 by the remake of ‘The Lion King’!  The power of Disney is unbelievable… but let’s admit… they do make incredibly moving and inspirational films… including Frozen!

Production Team… when you take on a musical with such a ‘cult’ following…you have to make sure you ‘get it right’!  Chorley Youth Theatre assembled an experienced Production Team to oversee this production… that had Sian Wharton Jones (Director/Choreographer), Dilwyn Roger Jones (her dad) (Assistant Director) and the ever so experienced Paul Carr (Musical Director/Producer) (all of whom I had the pleasure to meet and speak with prior to the show) so we just knew we were in safe hands!  Every Youth Production here at Chorley Youth Theatre, always has an element of ‘Youth’ on the Production Team, learning the ropes. ‘Frozen’ was no different – Ben Holden (Youth Musical Director), Jasmin Davenport (Youth Producer) and Myah Brookfield and Ruby Johnson (Youth Choreographers). Having now seen this production, this obviously wasn’t the easiest of productions to stage… lots of scene changes, lots of elements, that if you’ve seen the films, you needed to ‘be right’ … lots of characters that had to be right… all I can say is that you all did a great job!  If, the applause, the smiles, the hoots and holla’s that greeted the end of this production and the long queues to have photos with Elsa, Anna and the cast after the show were anything to go by… then this had been a great success… well done each and all, be very proud of what you achieved!

Cast… we had a cast of 32 all of whom, you could just tell, were ready, waiting and willing to give their all when those lights came up!  There always appears to be a great camaraderie within every youth cast here at Chorley Youth Theatre and that’s why it’s usually difficult to start saying someone was better than someone else… but although I believe that every cast member ‘gave their all’ and there’s not much more than you can ask… I do believe there are a number of people who need a ‘special shout-out’!  My first ‘shout out’ has to go to my ‘Showstealer’… Charlotte Roberts and her portrayal of ‘Anna’.  I think this is this first show that I’ve seen Charlotte perform in, but I’m sure it won’t be the last!  From her first entrance until her last she created a totally believable character, was confident, had great stage presence and worked really well with all the cast.  Good singing voice… loved her duet with Prince Hans ‘Love is an Open Door’… well done young lady and I think I caught a glimpse of a ‘tear or two’ at the bows, tears of joy I would suggest… be ever proud Charlotte!  Libby Smith-Hughes took on the role of ‘Elsa’, Anna sister!  Libby did a good job with this role and worked well with the other cast members. Libby is blessed with a great singing voice and her rendition of ‘Let it Go’ was a ‘highlight’ for me!  Well done young lady, be proud!  Thomas Bramwell had the unenviable task of creating everyone’s favourite goofy, loveable snowman… ‘Olaf’… a what a great job he did!  Again, confident, great characterisation, some great mannerisms and another who worked really well with the other members of the cast and made a great connection with the audience.  Well done young man, great job!  Charlie Blissett and Myah Brookfield worked really well together as ‘Kristoff’ the ‘ice harvester with the ‘prickly exterior’ but a ‘big heart’ who helps Anna and eventually falls in love with Anna and ‘Sven’ Kristoff’s loyal reindeer and best friend respectively ‘. Two more well-loved characters from the film, again a must to get it right and get it right they did!  There was a great chemistry between these two which was achieved with ease… well done you two be proud!  Zak Whitbourn took on the role of ‘King Agnarr’, Elsa and Anna’s father… small part but Zak made it his own and did a great job with it!  Frankie Budge took on then role of ‘Queen Iduna’, George Budge played ‘Paddie’, Sophie Clipston played ‘Bulda’, Ella Green played ‘The Bishop’, Tom McCann played ‘Prince Hans’, Harry Smith played ‘Weselton’ and Charlie Clipston played ‘Oaken’.   The Ensemble… included Townspeople, The Snow Chorus, Castle Staff, Guards, The Oaken Family and The Hidden Folk … taking on these roles were Finn Harty, Efini Morgan, Sophie Gunn, Grace Smith, Mia Elliott, Maja Kolasinska, Ellie Brookfield, Gabby McCarthy, Isobel Ashworth, Ruby Johnson, Laura Tingle, Chloe Jones, Ava Walsh, Hollyanne McGillivray, George Smith, Shayla Harty, Daniel Melling, Ella Green and Martha Cook… all of whom should be proud of what they achieved and help create!

Staging/Tech/Set…  as previously stated, the staging/tech for this production must have been a challenge with so many quick scene changes required… but the scene changes went really well with some initiative sets and lighting which enhanced and allowed the production to flow… so its congrats to Jasmin Davenport (Stage Manager) and her Backstage Crew including Sian and Jay Wharton Jones and Caroline Rogers Jones.  Set Design was down to Paul Carr and his Set Building/Set Painting Team of Ian Brookfield, Dilwyn and Caroline Rogers Jones, Sian and Jay Roger Jones, Steven Catterall and Members of Chorley Youth Theatre. As always here at Chorley Theatre the Tech/Special Effects always enhance the production and that happened again .. overseeing that was Paul Carr, Ben Holden (Tech Operator), James Grandy and Dilwyn Rogers Jones (Follow Spots)

Wardrobe… under the watchful eye of Sandra Dickinson assisted by James Grundy.  Props… were looked after by Jasmin Davenport and i/c Hair and Make Up we had Ellie Brookfield… well done everyone, great job!

YOUTH PRODUCTIONS… the need to ensure that young people are safe when involved in amateur theatre is paramount and without the likes of Ian Brookfield (Safeguarding Officer) and his team of dedicated Chaperones Kieron and Gillian Fulop and Siobhan Edge then these young people and many more would not have the opportunity to develop skills that will not only enhance their opportunities on stage but enhance their opportunities in life as well… thank you and well done one and all!

Again, I thank you for inviting my wife and I to your production, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening and can’t wait to come back and see you all again soon. 

‘YOUTH IS THE HOPE OF OUR FUTURE’ (Jose Rizal)

Stay Safe… Keep well

Stronger together

Jim Briscoe
District 6 Rep
NODA NW

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