PREVIEW
Magic Pirate Ship
Noisy Theatre
Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.
Arden Theatre
5 St. Anne Street
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 child and free under 2 years. Call 780-459-1542 or at http://www.ticketmaster.ca
The Purple Pirate is about to drop anchor on The Magic Pirate Ship at the Arden Theatre, his newest port of discovery. When he hops on shore Thursday, Feb. 1, the bold privateer will carry a map of buried treasure.
"Children love hunting for treasure. They buy into the mythology, the exploration, the possibility of mining for treasure," said Dustin Anderson, a.k.a. the Purple Pirate.
While performing for the under-five crowd, the British Columbia based family entertainer dresses like an 18th century buccaneer complete with a tricorn hat. However, he forgoes the typical pirate trappings of eye patches, peg legs and nasty hooks.
"But I do have a crab puppet with an eye patch and a disgruntled attitude," laughs the award-winning artist.
Using magic, dance, bubbles, confetti and interactive play, the agile swashbuckler also incorporates an audio track into the 50-minute show.
"I took cues from Hollywood movies and audio is a powerful way to connect to people's emotions."
Born in Prince Rupert, Anderson grew up in various locales including Port Hardy, a small town on the northeast tip of Vancouver Island.
Back in the 1980s as a teenager, Anderson aspired to become a Michael Jackson backup dancer. But those dreams were tossed overboard. His father, a mining maintenance planner, preferred his son choose a traditional livelihood.
"And anyway, the nearest community where I could take lessons was Port Alice, 45 minutes away. My parents thought it was better that I work at the local grocery store."
After graduation, Anderson did the expected. He picked up a series of short-lived blue collar jobs at fisheries and oil rigs.
"I worked as a roughneck for one month. I got tar in my hair and then there was an H2S (hydrogen sulphide) gas scare. It's a toxic, odourless gas from underground. When the alarm sounds, if you don't get out of the area, you can die."
"That was my distraction period when you choose big money over following your heart."
By 1994, the emerging artist pulled up his bootstraps and auditioned for MacEwan College's now defunct two-year dance program and was accepted.
"One week I'm on Haida Gwaii gutting fish and covered in fish blood. The next week, I'm dancing at MacEwan," said Anderson laughing at the incongruous image.
Upon completing the program, he enjoyed a brush at a Toronto dance festival before hoofing to Broadway tunes on cruise ships, and twirling across Australia's stages.
The Purple Pirate character was born in 1999 due to economic necessity.
"After a year or two, I found performing for children was more enjoyable than dancing. I had chosen to dance out of ego. I loved the physicality of it, but I didn't enjoy the stress of performance. Dance was also hard on my body, and as a dancer, you don't have a long-term career."
Anderson met internationally renowned magician Shawn Farquhar on a cruise ship, and approached the illusionist for guidance in creating a Purple Pirate act.
"He was incredible. He taught me nine magic tricks. I did it for a while, but it wasn't what I wanted to do. I wanted it to be more physical."
For the past 18 years, the Purple Pirate has mushroomed and been tweaked into the vibrant, compassionate character it is today.
"This is going to be a two-layered show, kind of like a Pixar film. It's a blend based on the power of mythology spun in a fun way. There's a lot of attention to detail making it a fluid experience."
