Let it go. That was the takeaway from last week’s production of Frozen Jr. at Stanley-Boyd High School. With performances Wednesday, Oct. 26, Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, the Disney hit turned screenplay largely followed the movie, young audience members even showing up in Anna and Elsa costumes as the musical played in two main parts, separated by an intermission. A full 980 tickets were sold, attendance swelling to 1,000 when counting those four and under who got in free, and making it the biggest crowd ever seen by the Stanley-Boyd Drama Club.
Starting out with a young Anna and Elsa as they inhabit the world of childhood, the drama unfolds as Elsa is taught to “conceal it, don’t feel it” regarding her magic after a childhood accident leaves Anna injured.
“The heart is not so easily persuaded,” Anna’s parents are told by the Hidden Folk of the Mountains as they ensure Anna is all right.
Elsa becomes withdrawn as she wears gloves to hide her abilities, until the loss of the king and queen leaves both girls to deal with their grief alone, estranged and awaiting Coronation Day.
Long isolated, Anna ends up falling for Hans when the big day arrives, thirteenth son of a king of a small kingdom. The two bond over shared childhood experiences, becoming engaged before Elsa famously says, “you can’t marry a man you just met,” refusing her blessing.
Elsa’s magic is revealed, leaving her to flee.
Setting out to find her sister while leaving Hans in charge with Duke Weselton, Anna meets ice cutter Kristoff and his reindeer Sven, while Snowman Olaf dreams of summer, when he’ll do “whatever snowmen do in summer.”
“I’m going to say something,” Kristoff says, before Anna stops him.
“Don’t you dare!” she exclaims.
Along the way Anna is injured in the heart, putting her life in danger. Only an act of true love can save her, but it turns out Hans isn’t up to the task.
Revealed to be a villain, Hans finds himself turned out in the end as Anna gets between him and Elsa, freezing in the process.
Elsa’s tears of grief allow her to let it go, and Arendelle is saved.