“The Snow Goose”
Goodspeed Musicals
Goodspeed Musicals is currently presenting the world premiere musical, “The Snow Goose,” which is lovely and touching. Based on Paul Gallico’s 1941 novella, this show has a very gentle, folksy quality that is instantly inviting. Written by Scott Gilmour and Claire McKenzie, “The Snow Goose” could still benefit from some further work, but its heart is definitely in the right place and it looms large throughout the show.
The cast is extremely good and the atmosphere of the musical’s setting reminds one of the feeling that the musical “Once” conveyed. Let’s hope that “The Snow Goose” has the same good fortunes as “Once”—being able to get to Broadway and thrive. That said, it’s good for any theatergoer to catch “The Snow Goose” at Goodspeed Musicals, while you can.
The character of The Bard (the terrific Sam Sherwood) is a kind of balladeer, opening the show with the wistful song, “Restless Sea.” Sherwood is immediately ingratiating and he manages to largely to be the overseer of the whole musical. “The Snow Goose” itself focuses on the character of Frith (the charming and commanding Ashlyn Maddox) and how she discovers a snow goose name Princess being taken of by Philip, a recluse in a lighthouse. Eric Graise is excellent as Philip and he brings a rich and powerful voice to the show. The goose itself, Princess, is brought to live by a team of puppeteers, led by the sensational Leah Hofmann, who make the goose the shining light in the musical.
On Emmie Finckel’s burnished, multi-level set, complete with moody lighting by Aja M. Jackson, “The Snow Goose” captures its time and place perfectly. Against the wishes of her stern older cousin Harper (the strong Ally Bonino), Frith secretly makes several trips to the lighthouse and she forms a bond with Princess, as well as with Philip. Other characters include Wilf, Clara, and Farley, well played by, respectively, Charlie Webb, Ayanna Nicole Thomas, and Gabriel Marcus Omlor, as Frith’s friends. The four characters get the song, “The Monster in the Marshes,” early in the show, which helps establish the town’s fear of the lighthouse and, more specifically, of Philip.
The score has a gentle, low key quality and it sounds great as played by the onstage orchestra, led by the masterful music director Adam Souza. And there are some standout songs. Frith’s two early numbers, “The Call” and “Little Bird” have a plaintive quality to them and this character also shares songs with Philip, which really pierce the heart. The uplifting “She Can Fly Again” (which is sung in two parts) shows Frith and Philip bonding, thanks to their love of Princess. Perhaps the best song in the show, though, is “Philip’s Goodbye,” which, as sung by Eric Graise, soars throughout the theater.
And, speaking of soaring, there is the snow goose Princess. Thanks to the puppeteers, Princess flies high, including moments when she is literally above the audience. These moments are magical and Princess nearly steals the show. It says a lot that the humans in the musical shine, as well. There is a large ensemble of characters, including Amy Hillner Larsen and David Aron Damane, who nicely add further strenth to the show, and costume designer Mallory Kay Nelson provides the perfect clothes to establish each of the individual characters’ personalities.
Director Marshall Pailet, with a significant assist by choreographer Misha Shields, skillfully keep “The Snow Goose” aloft largely throughout and the performers also work wonders in the show. Frith’s protective cousin Harper, Ally Bonino (who was also wonderful in the musical “Suffs”) gets a key song in the second act called “The World Don’t Want to Know.” This number can move one to tears as it establishes Harper’s fear that she hasn’t gotten everything she might have wanted out of life.
This can be a universal feeling and it also serves as a metaphor for the musical itself: “The Snow Goose” strikes the emotions and has so many glorious qualities that one can only wish that this show’s future will be bright and fulfill its potential of having a long life beyond this current production. That said, come explore the treasures onstage at “The Snow Goose” now at Goodspeed Musicals.
“The Snow Goose” runs through October 18, 2026, at Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main St., East Haddam CT. For tickets and information, please call 860-873-8668 or visit Goodspeed.org.
Photo: Ashlyn Maddox and cast
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Reviews by Zander Opper 