From tonight, Oct. 24, until Oct. 27, the Drama department, led by Heather Cousins, will bring the magic of British pantomime to the stage with two performances: “Cinderella” and “Treasure Island.” This year’s production promises laughter, adventure, and a great show.
British pantomimes, more commonly known as pantos, are known for their slapstick humor, and exaggerated characters, often including audience participation. The first panto on Cinderella plans to apply a comedic twist to the world-renowned fairy tale.
Cousins and the cast have been preparing to adapt these two classical, well-known stories using the playful, humorous style pantos are known for.
“The big difference between a panto and a regular play is that all the actors have to use British accents, but acting in a panto generally just requires a lot more energy and physical comedy than a regular play because it relies on slapstick and outrageous premises,” actor Grace Perez said.
For the Cinderella showing, actors will portray the classical fairytale, with the inclusion of aspects of modern culture, like pop songs and slang. Senior Sam White will be playing the leading role of Cinderella, with senior Lia Verrico playing Prince Charming. Surrounding the two main characters are seniors Emma Romweber and Claire Mercer, who play Cinderella’s stepsisters.
Similar to the “Cinderella” adaptation, “Treasure Island” will follow the classic story, with some aspects of modern culture. Junior Riley Guymon takes on the role of Jim Hawkins, the narrator of this play. Supporting Guymon is junior Alice Olson, playing Long John Silver, with many other actors alongside them. “Treasure Island” will be performed on Thursday, Oct. 24th, and Friday, Oct. 25th, at 7 PM. Cinderella will be Saturday the 26th at 7 PM, and Sunday the 27th at 4 PM.
By using this different kind of play format, the drama class hopes to generate new excitement around the creative adaptation of familiar stories.
“The acting style is exaggerated — everything, including the props and costumes, is larger than life,” director Heather Cousins said.
Audiences can expect classic panto moments including call-and-response, where the actors in the play will engage with the audience, prompting them to respond to their question or statement. There will also be humorous asides, allowing characters to share their thoughts with the audience away from the other characters.
“My favorite type of play to direct is one where we can make creative choices, make a story come to life on-stage, and have lots of fun,” Cousins said.
Tickets are available on the CUR8 website for all showings of the play. The program is available here. Be sure to come and watch these special performances!
