(Photos sourced from CNO’s official WeChat account)
Illuminating Production
The production’s visual elements immediately address this question. As the curtain rose, the audience was struck by the ingenious use of steampunk aesthetics. Charming, almost Disney-like characters navigate a world of gears and steam engines, creating more than just a spectacle. Director Shi Jingfu’s efforts to craft a “cool yet not overly sweet” fairy tale world bring forth a blend of whimsical figures and an industrial backdrop, creating a powerful visual metaphor. This juxtaposition cleverly reflects a modern dilemma: how to preserve childhood wonder while embracing the rapid changes in today’s world.
However, the production does not fully align with the director’s intention in its narrative choices. Changes such as replacing the stepmother with a birth mother, removing the children’s chorus, and reducing the witch’s role shift our focus to the protagonists’ journey. While this highlights Hansel and Gretel’s development, it sacrifices some character depth and dilutes aspects of the original work’s complexity.
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