As part of holiday festivities, Snow White will be coming to the Sid Williams Theatre as a musical. However, it will look a bit different than other more typical plays.
That is because the play will be done as a pantomime. Put together by Courtenay Little Theatre featuring over 30 local actors and directed by Mandy Tulloch of Tulloch Academy and Sitka Stage and Screen, it promises to bring all the differences and nuances that set pantomimes apart and bring family fun for all ages.
Tulloch says this pantomime is based on Cammedia Dell’arte and Shakespeare, going back to when women were not allowed to play on the stage and men had to do all the characters.
“A traditional pantomime must have a male figure playing the dame,” said Tulloch. “Therefore, to offset it, the principal boy is always played by a female.”
Tulloch adds that there is always a struggle between good and evil, right being good and left being evil, for two characters and they break what is called the “fourth wall.”
“The fourth wall is the audience. In a traditional musical that doesn’t tend to happen but [for us] it happens quite a bit where we can actually go into the audience or have the audience come on stage and participate,” said Tulloch.
She adds it is also written with a 90 second attention span with jokes designed for more mature and children’s audiences.
Pantomimes have been a part of Tulloch’s life since she was around six-years-old. She says with actors of all ages, it provides an opportunity to bring people together for fun leading up to the holidays.
“It’s hopefully something that people look forward to, they go every year. The children dress up, possibly as Cinderella or Snow White in this case,” said Tulloch. “It’s a seasonal event that is something that brings a family together and hopefully introduces a lot of young people to the theatre for the first time.
“It’s something that tickles your funny bone at a time when we all need to laugh.”
The show will run between Dec. 22 and 31 at the Sid Williams Theatre. Tickets are on sale, and more information can be found here.
