by Terrance Mc Arthur

There is magic on the stage (and girls in Princess outfits in the audience) at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater for the Good Company Players’ production of Disney’s Frozen: the Broadway Musical.

Based on the popular 2013 animated film (inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Snow Queen”), the stage version ran for 825 performances on Broadway. Elsa (Kaitlyn Wheeler [Winter Cast], Kaitlyn Dean [Summer Cast]) and Anna (Haleigh Cook [Winter Cast], Jessica Martin [Summer Cast]) are princesses in the kingdom of Arendelle. Elsa, the older sister, has magical powers that create snow. An accident with that power harms Anna, causing the King (Lex Martin [Winter Cast], Michael Diaz [Summer Cast]) and Queen (Aubree Facio) to close the palace and separate the girls. When the royal couple die, the princesses live lonely years until it’s time for Elsa’s coronation as Queen. Anna meets and falls for Prince Hans of the Southern Isles (Michael Fidalgo), but Elsa forbids their marriage. In the argument, Elsa’s snow-causing powers are revealed, she is declared a monster, and the newly-crowned queen flees to the North Mountain, leaving the kingdom trapped in perpetual winter. Anna goes after her sister, aided by Kristoff (Shawn Williams) an ice-cutter, his reindeer Sven (Briston Diffey), and Olaf (Michael Diaz [Winter Cast], Lex Martin [Summer Cast]. Can the wintry climate change be stopped? Will love triumph? Will the sisters be reunited? Remember, Disney always turns out all right.

Four of the roles in this production are double-cast, sort-of—the Summer cast and the Winter cast. Two actresses play Elsa, and two play Anna, alternating. What makes it more complicated, two Kaitlyns are playing Elsa. There are two Olafs and two Kings, but only two actors take turns, switching roles. Hopefully it will become clearer as we go along. My wife and I saw the Winter cast (I think).
Kaitlyn Wheeler was regal as Elsa, and she belt out “Let It Go” with amazing power in the performance we saw. Kaitlin Dean—who has played Ariel in a GCP The Little Mermaid, is a talented young woman with a wonderful voice, and can easily handle the role of Elsa.

We saw Haleigh Cook as Anna. She was energetic, had a great giggle and excellent timing. Jessica Martin is the other Anna. She showed great depth as Amy in last year’s Little Women: A Victorian Christmas Card, growing from bubbly to mature, which could carry over when she portrays Anna.

We saw Michael Diaz as Olaf. His timing was impeccable, especially with the added responsibility of operating the puppet that represented his snowman character. Lex Martin played the King. He was kindly, with a gentleness that could turn stern. In other performances, they will each play the other role—Diaz becomes the King, and Martin will operate Olaf. I hope you aren’t confused, but I still am.

Williams is a GCP go-to guy, and I’m glad they went to him for Kristoff. He sings well, romances nicely, and keeps a straight face when he snuggles with a puppet reindeer. Hidden inside that puppet is Briston Diffey. And the work to make it appear and move like the real thing is mind-boggling! It even walks like a reindeer with four legs!

Fidalgo is charming as Hans, has a pleasant voice, and gives the perfect delivery to one line that changes everything. Terry Lewis, as Pobbie of the Hidden Folk, alternates between a wise shaman of great power, and a goofy matchmaker. He proves he can play anything. Dorie Hamby, as Bulda of the Hidden folk, presents as the yenta of all yentas (Believe me on this one.). Greg Grannis, as Oaken, a traveling merchant with a large family, presides over one of the silliest scenes in my memory with a song called “Hygge” (Don’t even try to pronounce it.).

As the Duke of the oft-mispronounced Weselton, Daniel Sutherland slides from the powerful character he played in 1776 to a figure of ridicule in a strange wig. Khari Somerville makes a towering and stately Bishop. Aubree Facio becomes a motherly and stately Queen. Campbell Sloas and Eliot Quin Karle Bonetto , youngsters who have anchored productions of The Bad Seed and The Secret Garden, respectively, turn in stellar performances as Young Anna and Young Elsa, respectively.

As complicated an undertaking as staging Frozen with 35 performers on the Roger Rocka’s stage can be, GCP has put together a behind-the-scenes team that is up to the task. Emily Pessano and Robert Sanchez worked together as directors. Jessica Sarkesian choreographed, with Kailyn Sanders as assistant, and Pessano contributing additional dances (She also handled the large demands of wig master). Vocal Coach Laurie Bridges managed to turn a passel of San Joaquin Valley singers into a Scandinavian choir. Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed and her costume shop recreated and adapted some of the film’s designs, and they clothed the cast in Nordic glory. David Pierce’s scenic designs created a neutral canvas for a whole world of color and texture. Projection operator juggled multi-leveled images to build storms and beauty. Ashley Leyva and John Sloas deserve presence in the show’s curtain call for all their work as the Backstage Crew.

This production of Frozen is a heart-warming treat for audience members from five years old and up. (Disney outfits are not required, but Princess dresses and Magic Kingdom-themed shirts and ties have been seen in the audiences.) Don’t “Let It Go” without seeing it!

The Junior Company pre-show honors the theme in Frozen of hope with classic pop songs like “Wishin’and Hopin'”, and tunes from Broadway shows like Newsies and Godspell. It’s upbeat fun!

Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater is at 1226 N. Wishon Ave. at Olive Ave. For tickets and further information, go to gcplayers.com, or call (559) 266-9494.

If you love local theatre, be sure to check out Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast, which features mysteries read by local actors. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and also on podbean.

Check out more theatre reviews & other local entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur worked for the Fresno County Public Library for three decades. He is retired, but not retiring. A storyteller, puppeteer, writer, actor, magician, basketmaker, and all-around interesting person, his goal is to make life more unusual for everyone he meets.