When Denise Simone first saw the pantomime by Gale LaJoye, called "Snowflake," 15 years ago in Richmond, Va., she remembers sitting in the theater and "doing Tinkerbelle: 'I believe. I believe.'"
A Company of Fools core member and a resident of Hailey for the past decade, she continued to be a believer.
"It was one of those shows I couldn't forget," she said. "He's preformed all over the world but never in Idaho and we finally made it work this year," she said. "It's a beautiful story that resonates for this company, but we don't do that art form."
The Company of Fools will present "Snowflake" at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey from Wednesday, Dec. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 30.
Once a Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus clown, LaJoye developed the street-character of Snowflake and began performing it in 1990.
Since then he has mounted the show in Asia, South America, Australia, Mexico, Canada, the U.S. and in Japan, where he has appeared in 280 cities.
"There are no language barriers," Simone said. "It's for everyone. It's beautiful, funny, magical and simple and heart warming. He creates a world out of things people discard or no longer use. It doesn't have religious overtones. It's seasonally embrace-ive and makes you feel really wonderful when you leave the theater."
LaJoye thinks that at this time of year it's particularly important to remind people of what their relationships with material things really mean.
Snowflake, who lives in an empty lot, is in a "vulnerable state," LaJoye said. "No one feels safe or secure, but it's what a person makes out of it. It's not about material things but heart and soul. Snowflake exemplifies that. He doesn't have much, but he's willing to give. Through humor we can make these messages palatable. When we laugh and enjoy we break down barriers. It's entertainment, and through that we get the message."
Tickets and Times
· Adult $25. Seniors $18. Children $10.
· Special tickets: 10 seats each for $10 nightly, educator night or family night.
· Where: Liberty Theatre, 110 North Main St. in Hailey, 578-9122.
· When: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. for a pay-what-you-feel preview. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 20 and 21, 7 p.m. will be educator night, and teachers will receive discounted tickets. Saturday, Dec. 22, 29, 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, 3 p.m. will be family night. Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 26, 27, 28, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, 3 p.m.
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Courtesy photo
Snowflake (Gale LaJoye) skis in a vacant lot in ?Snowflake? to the music of Pyotr Tchiakovsky?s ?The Nutcracker.?
