Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

Though some people seem to think that Disney invented the Snow White story, the tale of the innocent, beautiful young princess was, in fact, included in the Brothers Grimm 1812 collection of fairytales, and versions of it exist in many European countries. One thing they all have in common is the jealousy of the vain stepmother, the Queen, and her attempts to kill her sweet stepdaughter because the girl is more beautiful than the Queen. The lesson to take away was that the pure of heart are ultimately rewarded while the wicked perish.

But now there’s a 21^st century interpretation of this classic, the brain child of playwright Greg Banks, a multiple award-winning thespian artist, whose two-actor play Snow White will have its San Antonio premiere at the Magik Theatre this weekend. he production marks the return to live in-person performances for the beloved family theater.

And, yes, you read that right: only two actors will be on stage, Rosa Gardner and Bobby Tschoepe!  They will play all the roles – Snow White, the Huntsman, the Evil Queen, The Prince, the seven dwarfs and the talking Magic Mirror.

“When they think of Snow White, a lot of people think of the Disney animated film. Our version is based more on the original Grimm fairytale,” said Tschoepe, who has appeared in multiple Magik productions before the pandemic. “But it’s a little different from that, too. The main difference is that Snow White and the Prince have a different ending in our story. I think audiences will enjoy seeing our take on the happy ending.”

Tschoepe plays 14 roles, including the Huntsman, the Prince, the Queen, and all seven dwarfs, who are identified by numbers rather than names. What’s more, in some scenes, he even becomes Snow White. “It’s really fun getting to portray 14 different characters,” said the actor. By comparison, Gardner has it easy with only four roles.

Aware that this kind of staging could become confusing to children, the cast and their director, Anthony Runfola, have taken steps to enhance comprehension.  Though all the dwarfs wear hats, for instance, the actor signals who is speaking by altering the way he wears the hat, and by using different body language and “a lot of different voices.”

“It has been a struggle at times,” he admits, referring to the quick changes he has to perform along the way. “It was a lot of work at first. But it’s much easier now.”

Gardner, who has never portrayed Snow White before has also adapted to mad-cap changes and is  enjoying being part of the new play.

“I appreciate this version of Snow White because it’s different. It’s not just about a girl who needs to be saved and ‘lives happily for ever after.’ She is stronger and much more independent,” explained the actress.  “The old portrayals make her sweet and like she has no opinions about anything. My Snow White – both the way she was written and the way I play her – has that naivete at first but she grows up quickly. She is more powerful and makes decisions about her own life.”

Another  contemporary aspect involves the dwarfs, who have to debate among themselves whether they want Snow White to stay with them, given that this potentially exposes them to danger. In the end, they decide to do the right thing by helping a person in need. Eventually they become close like a family.

Though the Ohio-born actress had been in only one children’s show before moving to San Antonio, she has since appeared in a number of plays at the Magik, including Bunnicula, A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, The Cat in the Hat, and quite a few others. “I discovered a passion for children’s theater,” she said, “I really love it now.” And her young daughter is her biggest fans. Not only does the 8-year-old see every show that Mom is in several times, she shares her impressions with her mother. “Seeing it through her eyes, makes it more special,” noted Gardner, “and it helps me, as an actor, to communicate in a way that she will understand.”

The new Snow White is also described as very funny, with a number of cool tricks, pratfalls, and visual jokes scattered throughout, said Tschoepe. In one scene, for instance, a character drinks from an imaginary glass but when the “glass” is discarded, everyone will hear the sound of shattering glass. And, according to reviewers, there are lot of knock-knock jokes kids relate to. The play is also punctuated by songs and music, much of it written by music director Darrin Newhart.

So how does it feel to be back on stage in front of a real, live audience, however reduced for safety reasons?

“It’s like being back home but at the same time not quite because it’s different from what we were used to before. So, it feels wonderful but I still long for when we all will be able to return to the stage like before and have a full theater again,” said Gardner.

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(Opens Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. and runs through Dec. 24; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo; Tickets $20 adult, $15 children/military/seniors/educators; www.magiktheatre.org. Special days and prices for first responders and veterans. Free parking at Hemisfair Parking Garage. Masks are required. For info call 210-227-2751