For many people, their first introduction to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves comes via Disney鈥檚 groundbreaking animated feature of the same name, yet this December marks an astonishing 80 years since that cartoon classic hit movie screens. If you go even further back, the Brothers Grimm fairy tale that inspired the film was published more than two centuries ago, in 1812.
One could argue that the story is timeless, yet this year鈥檚 East Van Panto presentation of is looking to both modernize and localize the treasured piece. For director , who returns to the annual Theatre Replacement series after helming Little Red Riding Hood in 2016, 鈥渇iguring out how to speak to our own city is a really fun puzzle.鈥�
All will be revealed during Snow White鈥檚 upcoming run at the Cultch (Nov. 29-Jan. 6), but it鈥檚 confirmed that the production has the titular hero escaping the clutches of the wicked Queen of North 麻豆传媒映画and into the city via the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, where she soon finds refuge on the PNE grounds. There, she鈥檒l run into an out-of-luck rock band called the Seven Dwarves, not to mention a wildlife encounter with one of the fair鈥檚 favourite attractions, the SuperDogs.
鈥淚 think it allows people to feel like it鈥檚 their own story, which is part of why has become such a tradition for so many families so quickly,鈥� Rochon says of the Panto鈥檚 penchant for recontextualizing classics for the community. Speaking on a call with Westender while taking a break from contemplating the set design and tweaking the script (written by playwright and humorist Mark Chavez), she adds: 鈥淎lso, we鈥檙e able to poke fun at ourselves. Everybody likes a good ribbing.鈥�
Actor Ming Hudson, who has performed on stages in Canada and the U.K., takes on the role of Snow White. It鈥檚 her first pantomime, a theatre style that redefines fairy tales with contemporary references, music and audience participation. While she can recall hallmark moments from the Disney musical, she jokes with Westender that she won鈥檛 be singing soprano like the late voice actor Adriana Caselotti. Hudson also reveals that while she initially approached the role from the perspective of an 鈥渆mo teenager,鈥� this East Van update doesn鈥檛 do a complete overhaul on the beloved character.
鈥淓ven if she looks different, I think the heart of the Snow White character is still very much the same: She鈥檚 kind and she鈥檚 a bit of an innocent,鈥� says Hudson. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 definitely something that I鈥檓 drawing on from my cultural knowledge of the Snow White tale.鈥�
The show, the Panto鈥檚 fifth, is expected to feature a family-friendly mix of humour and music, but there鈥檚 more bite to East Van Panto鈥檚 Snow White and the Seven Dwarves than the requisite chomp on a poisoned apple. Like Theatre Replacement productions of Jack and the Beanstalk and Hansel and Gretel before it, real estate issues factor into the play. Reflecting on Vancouver鈥檚 housing crisis, the Dwarves are a group of out-of-work artists stacked together in a Playland haunted house, which is only affordable to them during the park鈥檚 off-season. It鈥檚 a predicament that could deflate the heigh-ho spirit, but the present day politics aren鈥檛 meant to bring audiences down.
鈥淚t comments on our community, but not in any sort of pedantic way,鈥� Hudson explains of the satirical nature of pantomimes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 bringing light to the issues without having to be serious, necessarily. Bringing awareness to things through laughter, instead.鈥�
In addition to spotlighting local issues, the play will also be re-conceptualizing pop hits for the crowd. As with last year鈥檚 Panto, 麻豆传媒映画musician Veda Hille was asked to revamp contemporary cuts with new story-specific lyrics. Musical director Ben Elliott, who will be performing keyboards and piano onstage alongside drummer Todd Biffard, hints at the music of Lorde, Depeche Mode and even cult beat-boxer/rapper Biz Markie being a part of the production. And while there鈥檚 an evil queen in the play, the night鈥檚 soundtrack will be saluting Queen Bey.
鈥淲e might be referencing 鈥樷�� by Destiny鈥檚 Child,鈥� Elliot says with a laugh, as he looks up the newly modified lyrics in question. 鈥溾�極ur Panto is ridicu-licious,鈥� that鈥檚 an example.鈥�
From some expected prat falls, to vivid scenery, to the regionally minded jokes, this latest interpretation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is determined to shake up the Brothers Grimm archetype. But regardless of the twists or traditional takes that remain, there鈥檚 something in there for audiences of all ages to relate to.
鈥淲hat is theatre but a mirror 鈥� a magic mirror on the wall, if you will,鈥� Elliott says. 鈥淲e go to the theatre to learn about ourselves and laugh at ourselves. When you have a place as unique and as interesting as East Vancouver, or 麻豆传媒映画proper, there鈥檚 so much material there to draw upon.鈥�
听鈥� East Van Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves runs Nov. 29-Jan. 6 at the York Theatre (639 Commercial Dr.). .听
