Watching Echuca Moama Theatre Company’s production of Frozen Jr is a fabulous way to spend an evening. Photos: Tamara Cadd.
A spectacle of young talent, Echuca Moama Theatre Company’s Frozen Jr is sure to thaw even the coldest of hearts.
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Echuca Paramount has been transformed into the Scandinavian kingdom of Arendelle, complete with impressive sets that will bring the audience straight into the Frozen fantasy.
From the moment Young Anna (Angela Attalh) came bounding on to the stage, her dynamic with sister Young Elsa (Macy Campbell) was evident.
The two nailed Let the Sun Shine On You, tongue-twisting lyrics and all, giving the crowd an indication they were in safe hands for the evening.
A smooth move from silly to serious was made by Queen Iduna (Claire Colturi) and King Agnarr (Meghan Gould), supported with a stacked ensemble for Hidden Folk.
Clever engineering made for an impressive transition showing Elsa and Anna growing up, bringing our eldest Anna (Amali Nunan) on to the stage.
Anna’s brightness burst into action, contrasted with a powerful coolness delivered from above by Elsa (Georgia Armstrong).
The sisters combined in haunting harmonies in For the First Time In Forever, with the ensemble showing their strength once again to back the leads.
Hans (Denvah Born), Anna (Amali Nunan) and Elsa (Georgia Armstrong) capture sophisticated emotions in their characters.
Elsa’s vocal control and emotional portrayal in Dangerous to Dream was beyond her years, a theme consistent across the production.
In one of the big sing-a-long tracks of the show, Hans (Denvah Born) and Anna brought strong energy to Love Is An Open Door.
Choreographer Molli Johns certainly put a stamp on this one, with the loved-up couple and chorus committing to a particularly entertaining scene.
Beloved duo Kristoff (Parker Goulding) and reindeer Sven (Maggie Oliver) had an appropriately silly dynamic from their first steps on to the stage, clear in Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People.
Olaf (Joel Nunan) gives audiences a warm hug with his loveable personality.
Being a crowd-favourite character could be a lot of pressure, but Olaf (Joel Nunan) lived up to the anthropomorphic snowman’s reputation.
During In Summer, Olaf showed that he could still be a triple threat, even in a sizeable snowman suit and while being lifted by ensemble members.
A cameo for the ages, Oaken (Will Emanuelli) was straight out of Scandinavia, with the cast’s performance of Hygge making me wish winter back again.
An iciness took over the theatre as Elsa waded through for her big moment, Let It Go, almost as if the temperature inside the theatre dropped by a few degrees.
The crowd was immersed in the vocals, cascading like icicles that catch the light in all the right ways.
The number was rounded out with a top-tier costume reveal, leaving audiences wondering if it was really a junior, amateur production they were watching.
Kudos to director Darcy Elliott in crafting one of the most iconic parts of the storyline.
Elsa (Georgia Armstrong) delivers powerhouse vocals from the second she graces the stage.
It could be difficult to follow such a performance, but Elsa and Anna did just that, bringing great balance in their harmonies.
The cast effectively cooled moments of intensity and undercut some of the big emotions unpacked in the musical with comic relief, an impressive feat for performers of their age.
While a full ensemble on the stage can sometimes seem crowded, the use of the set and clever choreography made for a healthy busyness in Fixer Upper.
Leaving no room to hide, Elsa and Anna’s flawless vocals certainly fit the bill in the stripped back Colder by the Minute and finale sequence.
Throughout the show, even the youngest ensemble members proved they could hold their own.
It was especially impressive to hear them nail difficult harmonies in songs they had belted the main melodies of for the majority of their lives.
Musical director Alisha Beavis has outdone herself in achieving this.
Frozen Jr is a show for all ages to enjoy, not only the little ones.
Whether it is your first visit to Arendelle, or you are a seasoned snowman-builder, the cast members, aged eight to 18, deliver a show not to be missed.
Five shows are set for Echuca Paramount: Friday, October 10 at 7pm, Saturday, October 11 at 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday, October 12 at 1pm and 3.30pm.
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