|
(Posted 6:30 a.m., Dec. 20)
Rumplestiltskin
panto a holiday treat for the entire family
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
 |
|
 Rumplestiltskin
arrives on the scene to collect his debt from
Grettle, the poor goose girl. Fred Sherwin/Photo
|
|
On
a weekend when it seems like the whole world is talking
about Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it’s nice
to know that there is still a place in the entertainment
world for amateur theatre and an appreciation for traditional
English pantomime.
One
theatrical group that continues to keep that tradition
alive is the East End Theatre company which recently wrapped
up their production of Rumplstiltskin at the Shenkman
Arts Centre.
Nothing
beats traditional English panto for sheer entertainment,
and nobody does it better than the East End Theatre company
which has been staging traditional holiday pantos for
the better part of 15 years.
Rumplestiltskin
is one of 23 traditional pantomimies written by Norman
Robbins and adapted for the local stage by with a slew
of topical references.
Like
all traditional pantomimes, the East End Theatre production
incorporated song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing,
in-jokes and audience participation.
True
to the genre, Rumplestiltskin has a villain, in fact,
two; a dame, which is a male actor dressed in drag; a
hero, which is traditionally a female actor cast in the
male lead; and a heroine.
If
you’ve forgotten the story it’s about a young
girl who is unwittingly forced to spin straw into gold
after her father brags to the king to make himself sound
superior. Locked inside a tower with a spinning wheel,
the girl is forced into making a deal with an evil gnome
named Rumplestiltzkin who agrees to produce the gold in
exchange for her first born child.
In
the East End Theatre version, the girl takes part in a
word play game where a four letter word is transformed
into another four letter word one letter at a time. In
this way, she turns the word “flax” into “gold”.
When
she tells her mother about her newly-discovered ability,
her mother boasts about it to the King who has driven
the kingdom into bankruptcy and is looking to marry his
son to a rich widow. The girl seems the perfect solution
to all of the King’s problems, but there is someone
else who is looking to get rich quick, the dastardly Baron
Bloodshot..
After
Grettle is locked in a tower with a spinning well and
a pile of flax, she is visited by Rumplestiltskin who
makes a deal for her first born. When the gnome returns
to the kingdom at the end of a three year deadline, he
gives Grettle, who is now married to the new king, an
out – if she can find out his name, he will let her
keep her son.
When
Rumplestiltskin lets the audience in on his secret, he’s
overheard by Sammy Slow-Poke, the village fool, who passes
the information on to Grettle and saves the day.
The
two-hour production was chock full of one-liners and over
the top performances that had the audience laughing out
loud.
Peter Frayne was especially hilarious as Mother Hubbard.
The
East End Theatre veteran was cast in the role of the dame
after playing a series of villains. That role was taken
on by David McNorgan, another East End Theatre veteran
who was cast as Baron Bloodshot.
McNorgan
was in his element as the character who not only draws
the ire of the audience, but invites it.
The
loudest boos were reserved for Rumplestiltskin. who was
played by Kim Reynolds. How can you not hate a maniacal
green gnome who tricks the heroine into letting him steal
her son. Reynolds was brilliantly diabolical in the role.
The
surprise performance of the night was turned in by Angel
Morden as Grettle, the poor goose girl who becomes Queen.
According to the program, it was Morden’s first performance
in front of a large audience. She was absolutely wonderful,
holding her own and commanding the stage throughout the
evening.
Other
performances that stood out included Lili Miller as Prince
Roland, and Jim Tanner in the dual role of King Marmaduke
and Major Domo.
The
other cast members included Kevin Rockel as Slow-Poke;
Nick St-François as The Baron’s guard Smash;
Sarah Kennedy as the Prince’s squire, Alan; and Jessica
Rockel as Alan’s sweetheart Rosamund.
I
almost forgot to mention the villagers and minions played
by Kyle Magee, Leah Attree, Amielle V., Cole Acker, Serena
Reynolds and Dylan and Rian Adamson and the great job
down by the director Jeanette Smith and her assistant
and East End Theatre founder Diane Barnett..
(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
|
TAPROOM 260 presents Crooked Creek live from 8-11 p.m. at 260 Centrum Blvd. For more information visit 
MATT LULOFF W/ EDISON RUPERT performing at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. To register your team visit 
OTTAWA CARLETON MALE CHOIR in concert at the Navan-Vars United Church 1129 Smith Rd. in Navan at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door.
THE ORLÉANS BREWING CO. presents Oyster Wednesdays every Wednesday. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd. near McDonalds.
BLACKBURN HAMLET COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entire community is invited…rain or shine! Please keep visiting blackburn.ca for more up-to-date information as it becomes available.
