There are very few shows where hissing and booing are welcome.
But that’s exactly what should, and did, happen at the Saturday afternoon performance of Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale, Shuswap Theatre’s 2015 pantomime.
A British tradition, audience participation is a very important part of a pantomime. Audience members are encouraged to boo the villain whenever he enters the stage, argue with the dame (who is always a man) and yell out to the unsuspecting when the witch is near.
Meet the buxom and effusive Wanda Wave, queen of the beauty salon, who caters to everyone’s needs in this village where hair is of utmost importance – save for the “hair” apparent Prince Pompadour.
He has been directed by his parents, King Bouffant and Queen Beehive, to find a wife.
They introduce him to four young, comely ladies in waiting and hair fashionistas in whom he has absolutely no interest.
Sauntering about the village disguised as a hip hop aficionado, Pompadour spies local witch, Vileda Scrunge, calling to her daughter, Rapunzel, high in a tower.
Rapunzel lowers her locks for her mother to ascend the ever-so-long hairdo, a tangled mess and home to a number of interesting things, including spiders. After all, it has not been cut since Rapunzel came into the witch’s “care” 17 years earlier.
Wanda, played by Kim MacMillan, is the heroine, who draws loud cheers. Hilary Brown as the ribald witch, Vileda Scrunge, draws the most hisses and boos of any of the many excellent cast members.
Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale by Vancouver playwright Peter Zednick and directed by Julia Body is wonderful family Christmas fare.
But hurry and get your tickets as the Sunday matinee was sold out and there are only four more performances – this Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Get tickets ($9.98 for adults and $5 for kids) at Intwined Fibre Arts on Hudson Avenue or online at www.shuswaptheatre.com.
