With the waning of winter, there’s no better way to close out the season at Attleboro Community Theatre (ACT) than with The Winter Wolf by Joseph Zettelmaier, directed by Douglas Greene. “It’s Christmas night in young Cora’s house. She’s visited by her beloved grandfather, a man of high spirits despite his failing health. As the family gathers around the fireplace, she listens to the legend of the Winter Wolf, a strange mythical creature who serves as Time’s hunter, stalking those who are in the winter of their lives. That night, as the Winter Wolf comes for Cora’s grandfather, she manages to trap it, breaking all the rules. What follows is a magical journey through the mysteries of time, as Cora learns how far one can go for the sake of someone they love,” in the words of the program.
“I have been waiting 10 years for a show like this to come along,” says Greene. “It has so many of the elements that I love and gave me a chance to go wild with my imagination, bringing it to life. The Winter Wolf has been a true labor of love and a beautiful demonstration of the power of community when creative and talented people fix their sights on a goal.” It doesn’t hurt that the playwright gave him the leeway to stretch and adapt his script with total freedom. “He has given us a new, modern myth that I hope will gain a wide recognition and acceptance in the coming years.”
Thanks largely to the creative team’s talents, ACT does a brilliant job emphasizing the magical elements of winter by creating a cozy atmosphere that enhances the emotional depth of the production’s narrative. Greene handles the wonder with a patient hand, perfect pacing, and tenderly imaginative set design with most impressive lighting. This is carefully enhanced by Jeanne Smith’s spectacular sound design. Together, their efforts create a dazzlingly foggy laser light show that’s not too harsh on the eyes, and fascinating to watch! The staging is split in two, with first Cora’s living room the center of the attention, then the entrance of a wolf’s den — a sensational setting of stone spires and a luminous full moon.
Costumes by Smith and Darlene Statkiewicz bring the essence of the main characters to life, with Cora (Emma Ferrisi) in her cutesy PJs, and the Winter Wolf (Doug “Mac” MacAskill) in a most impressive fur suit that serves him as both fearsome and benign. Their interplay is all business at first, but a tender, endearing understanding with mutual respect soon develops. He then affectionately refers to her as “Pup,” as if welcoming her into this lone wolf’s pack. How’s that for acceptance?!
Stephanie L. Geddes (Mother), Drew Bennett (Father), and Bruce Churchill (Grandfather) offer familial support. Churchill and Ferrisi share a perfect chemistry one can sense immediately. You can’t help but smile as he expertly delivers clever punchlines and she reacts with the guileless adoration of a child. The production ultimately conveys life’s fragility through folkloric mysticism, as well as the timeless power of love and memory. As the Winter Wolf exemplifies death and change, you can expect a poignant production that explores inspiring themes of hope, fate, and the fleeting time we have left on this earth.
The Winter Wolf is at times solemn, yet playful in the best ways. As our own seasonal thaw finally concludes, ACT welcomes you to this family-friendly fairytale production, steeped in memory and nostalgia. Come, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and howl like there’s no tomorrow!
ACT presents The Winter Wolf through March 22. For more information, visit attleborocommunitytheatre.net.