Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown, King's Head Theatre (online) - ★★★★★ - Dec 15 - Jan 10, 2021


The option came on screen “Are you having a lovely time? YES/NO". There was no doubt in our minds. We were. In the middle of the bleakest holiday season in recent memory, we don’t have to look any further than Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown for an inoculation of positive energy, humour and joy. If the title isn’t enticing, the splendid harmonies of a tall Snow White (John Savournin) and a slim petite Prince Larry (Emily Cairns) are. In this all-round terrific production, great music, duos, trios, quartets and quintets abound. With a delightfully Wicked Queen (Jennie Jacobs) and the mirror plotting to put taxes up during the pandemic, Snow White and the dwarfs, all amazingly played by Matthew Kellett, must try to keep their wits about them. The plot borrows from the classic fairy tale and mines its parallels to current events. We can relate fully and yet laugh when the Prince says “Can we stay the night?” and Snow White replies “Oh, I don’t know. It's so hard to keep track of all these restrictions.” Rules, rules, rules. When the option screen signals a viewer choice, and there is no choice, we had to laugh at our predicament. How true. What choices do we have at this moment? In this world, even a Royal Variety Performance can be a dangerous place, and Alice-like mirrors can project worlds that are distortions from which we need to protect each other. In answer to the question “What can I do?” Snow White in the Seven Months of Lockdown answers that we can “live for every second.” It's the infectious joy of living and performances like this which can be the antidote to the ills surrounding us!

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by A.V.
Photo by Ali Wright.

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