PREVIEW
Little Red Riding Hood
Dec. 13 to 24, Dec. 26 to 31
Capitol Theatre
Fort Edmonton Park
Tickets: $30 to $40, special Wednesday price $20 to $25. Visit www.fortedmontonpark.ca
In a season of nutty seasons, Fort Edmonton Park’s British style pantomime has brought a lot of joyous humour to a calendar packed with holiday projects.
In its fifth incarnation, Capitol Theatre hosts another fresh and irreverent holiday classic – Little Red Riding Hood.
But this is no naive kid who almost becomes fodder for a hungry wolf’s appetite. Director and playwright Dana Anderson has created a modern, free-spirited little girl with fantasies of becoming a celebrity pop star. Unfortunately, life steps in the way and Little Red must put her aspirations on hold while she cares for Grandma.
Anderson has also transferred Little Red, a recent graduate of Victoria School of Performing Arts, from Europe to Edmonton where most of Capitol Theatre’s pantos take place. Here Little Red must navigate several local landmarks on her journey to the big enchilada: the Edmonton River Valley, Millwoods and Wolf Willow.
“Along her journey, she meets a variety of Edmonton characters. There’s a grocery store and an accidental beach. She wants to go on the home concert circuit in Wolf Willow and eventually gets in over her head,” said St. Albert actor Madelaine Knight, who plays Little Red.
Davina Stewart suits up as the Big Bad Wolf, Jeff Halaby jumps into assorted roles as Grandma, Red’s mom and store clerk. Melissa MacPherson is the fourth cast member as the narrator and wildlife officer.
In a special performance, Aaron Macri, who also wrote the music, spins a few as D.J. Hoodie.
Like any other new work, there have been a few challenges and rewrites while working through the script.
“But everyone is so funny and Dana is awesome about making updates on the script. One of the biggest challenges for the actors are all the times they have back-to-back change pieces. There are a lot of switches in the show,” Knight explains.
But underneath the laughter, the panto hides a very real message.
“It’s about being true to yourself and following your dreams. There’s also a message about family told in a goofy panto way.”
After every show, the actors will join patrons in the lobby to share a few holiday wishes.
“The feedback we get is such a special thing. This show is such a great escape from the world. You get to escape into a kooky adventure for a couple of hours and have fun.”
Little Red Riding Hood runs Dec. 13 to 24, and Dec. 26 to 31 at Capitol Theatre.
