Starring Patti LuPone, John Neville, Meredith Henderson, and David Hemblen
Directed by Randy Bradshaw
Music by Lawrence Shragge; Lyrics by Warren Pash
This isn't really a musical, but its leading lady is a major Broadway star, and it does discuss the importance of music and sound in our lives. This one comes from the Great White North and was filmed at the Fortress of Louisberg on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, giving it the look of an especially rugged old story. How does the fable about a young girl who rescues a witch whose "song spinner" is capable of bringing noise and music to her village look now? Let's begin on the bay outside of Shandrillan with the arrival of the mysterious witch Zantalalia (LuPone) by boat and find out...
The Story: Aurora (Henderson) lives with her parents and her curious little brother Tibo (Matthew Leringy) in Shandrillan. Her father is the local priest, and her mother is a faithful follower of the strict rules that don't allow for sound or music. All words must be spoken in a hushed whisper, and anyone making even the smallest sound can be arrested by fearsome Captain Nizzle (Hemblen) and sent to the The Quiet House, the local prison.
Aurora has a gift her parents try to hide - she hears music in her head. This allows her to befriend Zantalalia, who gifts her with a "song spinner" that once belonged to her Grandfather Jessup (Ross Campbell). It's capable of making far more widespread music than any musician. Captain Nizzle wants to get rid of it before it interferes with a ceremony that could make the sun rise, but Zantalalia insists that the only way the sun will come up is with music. Nizzle arrests her and those who help her, but Aurora and Tibo have an unexpected ally in King Frilo the Magnificent (Neville) and his court.
The Song and Dance: I love unique fairy tales, and this is one of the better ones. Henderson does quite well for her first time out as the little girl who wonders why she hears music in her head when no one else does. LuPone does very well as the older gypsy whose very presence makes nasty Captain Nizzle nervous. The gorgeous winter scenery on Cape Breton Island goes a long way to making the dark fable come alive.
Favorite Number: Zantalila and Aurora dance a bit to a number on the "Song Spinner" mid-way through, and we see at least two flashbacks of Zantalilia in her heyday with her band, playing for dancers at a party. The major number is the finale, "Return the Sun," as first Aurora, then Zantalilia lead the citizens in song to bring back the sun and drown out Nizzle's obnoxious protests.
Trivia: Originally debuted in the US on Showtime as a Christmas Eve special in 1996.
What I Don't Like: I'm very surprised, especially given the music theme, that this isn't more of a flat-out musical. They could have literally snuck in a quiet song or two, something soft for the parents or for Aurora, or even another number for Zantalalia. The relatively cheap production shows in the odd art direction - the "song spinner" is really not much more than a record player. Neville doesn't have much to do until the end, either.
The Big Finale: Fans of LuPone and families looking for a unique fantasy tale for music lovers will want to seek this one out.
Home Media: Only on streaming in the US. Crackle and Flex are at least free with commercials.
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