A community theatre group based on the Saanich Peninsula will offer their seasonal take on a classic piece of literature.
The Peninsula Players B次元官网网址� whose history dates back to 1953 B次元官网网址� will perform Alice in Pantoland at SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Mary Winspear Centre starting Dec. 23 through Dec. 30 with the cast taking a rest on Dec. 25 and Dec. 28.
Pantomime is a contemporary form of musical comedy, whose sources often include familiar fairy tales, which undergo topical, humorous modifications.
B次元官网网址淧antomimes are traditionally put on at Christmas time,B次元官网网址� said Allan Haynes, who will direct the play. B次元官网网址淭hey became popular in the UK about 140 years or so ago and they have grown in popularity. They generally run from somewhere in the middle of December to somewhere in middle of January.B次元官网网址�
Some 20 years ago, they started to gain popularity in Canada, said Haynes.
So what is Alice doing in Pantoland?
B次元官网网址淲ell, she follows the (White Rabbit) down the rabbit hole and when she gets there, she finds out that Pantoland is the place where all of the pantomime actors live during their off-season, when they are not working. They all have to have second jobs there because they donB次元官网网址檛 earn enough money to live off their pantomime. So they are shopkeepers and things like that.B次元官网网址�
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AliceB次元官网网址檚 arrival coincides with the scheduled coronation of Prince Charming.
B次元官网网址淏ut there is a problem, in that Prince Charming has gone missing and the Ice Queen, a very evil Ice Queen, is planning to take over the coronation and become the ruler.B次元官网网址�
It goes without saying that she does not aim to become a benign ruler, but rather exploitative.
A cast of 13 ranging in ages from 11 to 60 years will perform the show, said Haynes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite a mix of people, which is one of the things I enjoy about it.B次元官网网址�
The younger cast members, some of whom still attend school, learn from the more experienced actors, he said.
B次元官网网址淎nd the older people feel rejuvenated by working with the youngsters, who are inevitably more lively than the older ones. I like having the younger ones, because they often stay a few years with us and itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see them develop over those years. Some of them are very good when they come to us. Others are a bit shy when they start.B次元官网网址�
Back to the play, how does Alice help resolve the unsettled politics of Pantoland?
B次元官网网址淲ell, she comes up with some good ideas to rescue the Prince and to capture the Queen,B次元官网网址� said Haynes. B次元官网网址淎nd she relies on Robin Hood to execute them.B次元官网网址� So there is a happy end for Alice and Prince Charming. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 left a little bit hanging in the air,B次元官网网址� said Haynes.
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