Theatre review - The Snowman
IT’S hard to believe that Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s magical version of Raymond Briggs’s classic, The Snowman , directed by Bill Alexander with music and lyrics by Howard Blake, is in its 24th year. The show is a delight from beginning to end and offers a healthy dose of festive spirit. The little ones who accompanied me (aged 2 and 4) were enraptured throughout. There’s not a word spoken, no phones or gadgets. This is pure spectacle, live music (courtesy of Costas Fotopoulos) and dance. A young boy (Jax Fenner) builds a snowman (Martin Fenton) in his garden. After everyone has gone to sleep, the snowman comes alive. The friendship and trust that develops between the two is particularly heart-warming. Initially the boy takes the snowman on a tour of his home. He introduces him to the family’s pet cat, his playroom and parents’ wardrobe and invites him to cool off in the freezer. In the kitchen, a coconut, banana and pineapple escape from the fridge and enjoy a limbo contest. Outsi