'Heidi' warms the heart

Friday, December 13, 2002
By Anna Rosenstein

I never thought of "Heidi" as a Christmas story, and it's not really. But in Prime Stage's current production, director Penelope Miller Lindblom demonstrates how nicely "Heidi" melds with the holiday season.

The story is set, of course, in the snowy Swiss Alps, the ideal winter wonderland. Designer Pei-Chi Su creates the perfect children's theater set, simple and evocative. Snowflake cutouts and snowy white pines dot the backdrop. The stage floor is painted in a winding path that leads to the house of Peter the goat herder and, farther on, to Heidi's grandfather's house. This is elevated so it seems both high in the mountains and isolated from its surroundings. When Heidi arrives to live with her grumpy grandfather, it's clear how alone the two of them are and easy to see how they quickly come to depend on one another.

Lindblom heightens the emotional punch of an already sentimental story by adding the talented voices of the Point Park Singers. With a full choir of 45 under the direction of Ricardo Tobia, including the occasional strategically-placed soloist in the balcony, carols surround the audience like the crisp winter air. The songs often underscore stage action, as when "Do You Hear What I Hear" ushers in Heidi's first experience of the icy wind rushing through the firs.

At times, the juxtaposition of song and text nudge Heidi a little too far toward a representation of the Christ child. But perhaps it only seems so because the parallels are already there. A poor child with no money and little family seeks shelter in the cold. She ends up teaching those around her lessons about giving and caring. In the text by Johanna Spyri, though not in this abbreviated adaptation by Lucille Miller, Heidi leads her ill-tempered grandfather back to both the community and the church. Even without drawing such clear allusions, there's certainly a more general connection as a child, in her innocence, awakens the spirit of love and charity in those around her.

Lindblom is especially adept at bringing to life these joyous moments. Not satisfied to merely relate the story, she celebrates its emotion with dance, puppetry and mime. Goats frolic, seasons turn and snow gently covers the mountains as the Storytellers, Jenna Bull-Trombold, Jesse Corbin and Chelsey Hughes, paint colorful images in graceful movement.

Emily Gup is a feisty, lively and sensitive Heidi, pairing nicely with Jack W. Burford's gruff yet lovable Alm Uncle (Heidi's grandfather). The supporting cast adds colorful characters to Heidi's world, especially Michael O'Brien as the sassy goatherd, Peter; Dennis Hruska as the kindly Mr. Seseman, and Audrey Castracane as the uppity Miss Rottemeier. Meredythe Kimmel is moving as Heidi's timid, wheelchair-bound playmate, Klara, and Bethany Rice adds some laughs as the flustered Aunte Dete and jumpy maidservant, Tinette.

Throw in some cuddly kittens courtesy of the Humane Society and you've got a production that could warm even the coldest winter heart.