While the emotions and stakes for the characters are very high and melodramatic, the comedy works best when the actors play their roles and moments honestly.
The fourth wall is frequently broken in a variety of ways: characters calling attention to this being a play, fairy tale characters talking directly to the audience either with a monologue, or soliciting advice from the audience.
When a character is talking directly to the audience, if there are other characters on stage they should freeze, until the character talking to the audience has finished.
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: A Q&A with Michael Wehrli
What sparked the idea for this play?
I wanted to do a wild re-telling of the story of Snow White, as a melodrama audience-participation farce, with some girl-empowerment to boot.
If you had to describe this play in three words, what would they be?
Farce, Physical, Audience Participation.
Which character was the most fun to write and why?
I loved writing for the Prince, who occasionally speaks in Spoonerisms! He’s an utterly sincere character, but his verbal quirk ends up being hilarious.
Is there a moment in the play you especially love seeing in rehearsal or performance?
The entire sequence with the Hunter and Snow White in the woods. It’s extremely physical, and I love physical theater.
What do actors seem to enjoy most about performing this show?
Actors love playing the very odd and funny “dwarfs” (who aren’t really dwarfs). Each one has a very distinct personality far from any collection you’ve ever seen in a Snow White story.
What’s something directors should know before staging this play?
Get ready to work a lot on the physical gags and verbal wordplay in the script! Make sure the actors play it sincerely, even though it is a farce. Lastly, let the laughter flow during the rehearsals, and have fun along the way.
What was the biggest challenge in writing this play?
Making Snow White much more personally powerful than in the traditional story. Also, making the stage directions extremely clear (there is a lot of movement & physicality in the play.)
What do you hope audiences walk away feeling?
Joy in their hearts from all the laughter, and a sense of fun that they were part of the play!
Just for fun: If this play came with a warning label, what would it say?
Audience, get ready to be a part of the play!
Anything else you’d like to share with theatres considering this play?
Thank you for considering “Snow White: The Melodrama!” Don’t think of it as a fairy tale – think of it as a wild farce with lots of audience participation! It’s one of my favorite audience-participation plays I’ve written. If you have any questions or comments about the play, I love to hear from venues.