A Flash of Light When 'Let It Go' Rings Out... The Magic Created by Musical 'Frozen'

The moment Elsa reached out her hand while singing "Let It Go" in the musical "Frozen," a flash of light burst across the entire theater. In that split second, Elsa's outfit transformed into the ice queen's dress. The cheers and applause erupting from various parts of the audience instantly proved what this performance was created to show.

The Korean premiere of the musical "Frozen," which brings the movie that captivated the world 13 years ago to the stage, opened on the 13th at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul. Following its Broadway premiere in 2018, "Frozen" has met domestic audiences for the first time after traveling through the West End, Japan, Australia, and Germany.

"Frozen" depicts the lives of two orphaned sisters of the Kingdom of Arendelle—Elsa, who possesses the power to control ice and snow, and Anna, who grew up protecting her older sister—from their childhood to the present. The main plot follows Elsa, who flees the kingdom alone in fear after her powers are revealed on her coronation day, and Anna, who embarks on a journey with Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf to save Arendelle from eternal winter and bring her sister back.

Compared to the original work, the musical focuses more deeply on the story of the two sisters. The actors on stage intricately portray Elsa's fear and love for her younger sister, alongside Anna's longing and sense of deprivation regarding her older sister. The talented child actors instantly capture the audience's attention early on. Afterward, Jung Sun-ah, who plays Elsa, and Choi Ji-hye, who plays Anna, deliver a dense and intense portrayal of sisterly love that is even stronger than magic.

The peak of this production is undoubtedly "Let It Go," which decorates the end of Act 1. Video projections covering the entire stage, lighting, fog effects, crystals, and snow powder harmonize to recreate the familiar scene in an entirely new way. Along with Elsa's transformation, the scene where ice and snowflake patterns are projected across the walls and floor in sync with her hand gestures recreated "Let It Go" with the speed and three-dimensional feel unique to a live stage.

The character implementation methods also stand out. The reindeer Sven was brought to life through an actor wearing a full costume, while the snowman Olaf was staged using puppet manipulation. Designed by Tony Award winner Michael Curry, well-known for "The Lion King," the two characters drew laughter from the audience. In particular, actor Jung Won-young's witty and innocent portrayal of Olaf is an unmissable point of entertainment in "Frozen."

The narrative of sisterly love—where younger sister Anna seeks to lift her older sister's curse and bring her back—might feel somewhat plain to audiences expecting high tension. However, for audiences who love the scale crafted by the Disney Theatrical Group producers behind "The Lion King" and "Aladdin," as well as the emotion and musical numbers of the original work, it is a stage that offers ample satisfaction.

Anyone who has raised a young child knows. There was hardly a child back then who didn't wear Elsa's blue dress. If it can bring back the emotion of 13 years ago, that in itself is already half the success. This stage, which turned a midsummer theater into the middle of the Kingdom of Arendelle, newly proved why a story that transcends generations remains valid today.

Meanwhile, the musical "Frozen" is scheduled to perform at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul until March 1 of next year, before moving on to the Dream Theatre in Busan.

* [Tick Tick Boom] is a corner name derived from "Tick, Tick... Boom!," the posthumous work of Jonathan Larson, the ill-fated genius composer who left behind the musical "Rent." We will deliver various perspectives on performing arts.

 

(Photo: Yonhap News) (SBS Entertainment News | Reporter Kang Kyung-yoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.