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The Snow Maiden

 ((Odyssey Theatre, West Los Angeles; 99 seats; $ 12.50 top))

By CHRISTOPHER MEEKS

The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents the Glorious Repertory Company in a drama in one act, written by Debbie Devine and Jay McAdams; director, Devine; producers, Ron Sossi, Devine, McAdams; costumes, Lindsay C. Stewart.
 
Anna ... Cheryl Crabtree
Claire Voyant, Carol ... Nina Minton
Nicholai, Eehl ... Erick Melton
Uncle Moishe ... Bruce Bierman
Alex ... Jay McAdams
Ling ... Alan Goodson
Katya ... Sharon McMahon
Spirit ... Casey Mervine
 

Interweaving a Russian folk tale with a story based loosely on the life of photographer Margaret Bourke-White, playwrights Debbie Devine and Jay McAdams have created a modern allegory filled with metaphor, strife and redemption. As director, Devine establishes a lively and theatrical evening.

In turn-of-the-century Russia, Anna (Cheryl Crabtree) sees her Jewish activist parents (Erick Melton and Sharon McMahon) taken away by Cossacks who later kill them. Her Uncle Moishe (Bruce Bierman) sends her to China to hide.

There, Anna becomes adept at photography with the help of her Chinese mentor, Ling (Alan Goodson). Her work impresses an American publisher (McAdams), who hires her to photograph for Life magazine.

On assignment in Paris at the beginning of World War II, Anna witnesses the Nazi takeover and helps a singer (Nina Minton) in the resistance movement. All the while, Anna perfects her craft and understands her identity.

With the exception of Crabtree, every actor plays a number of roles, ranging in age from 10 to 90 and changing as fluidly as the scenes themselves.

Crabtree excellently portrays a woman who shoulders the guilt of having been unable to save her parents; the loss eats at her for much of her life. Anna's pursuit of perfection in her work takes her to places that frighten other people. She replies in echo of what her father told her years before: "When you're doing what's right, there's nothing to fear."

Nina Minton glows in dual roles as a modern mother and a cabaret singer in the war.

While Devine and McAdams proudly display their respective talents as director and actor, their work as writers is also notable. Here and in the recently closed "Frankenstein," they clearly know how to connect to a narrative spine and create economical and often brief scenes.

Their use of metaphor packs in what pages of dialogue could not.

Reprised from a successful run last season, the show has polish despite a low budget. Lindsay C. Stewart's costumes evoke time and place well. Music by Richard Allen and choreography by Maureen Kennedy Samuels and Michael LaTour dexterously reinforce tone.

Music, Richard Allen; choreography, Maureen Kennedy Samuels, Michael LaTour. Opened Dec. 15, 1994; reviewed Dec. 27; runs through Jan. 15. Running time, 90 min.