Hansel and Gretel at PCPS - colourful characters put a unique twist on age old fairy tales

Oct 30, 2014

Those familiar with the old children’s fairy tales, like Hansel and Gretel, are in for a real treat thanks to an artful production that continues at Prince Charles Public School in Verona this week.

Written by Steph DeFerie, the play is directed by Doug MacIntyre and produced by himself and Kathy King. It is the perfect piece of community theatre for the Halloween season since it offers up loads of colourful costumes plus a hefty portion of comical characters in all shapes and sizes for young and old alike. The story is not just about Hansel and Gretel; it brings in all the beloved fairy tale characters we have grown up with, and each is generously scripted and given a chance to shine.

That is the case for Meagan Smith, who plays Blossom the Cow and whose three-letter word utterances charm to no end. So is the case for the forest mouse, Alyssa Parks, whose wee cuteness and focused attention to the action is equally charming.

And speaking of charming, Josh Detlor’s dandy Prince was just that, as was Gareth Hewitt's Big Bad Wolf, a character you just love to hate. Similarly Hailey Hickey's mirrored face was a hilarious sight to behold, as were the words she spoke as the bearer of the truth. Stephanie Rowe as both Snow White and Red Hiding Hood was also highly entertaining. The truth – or what we think we know as the truth about these characters - is one idea that the plot closely hinges on in this play and is what DeFerie plays on.

Veteran actors to the community stage did not miss out on a chance to put their talents to the test. Both Astrid Tanton as Gretel and Johnny Parks as Hansel were stellar as the young leads who personalities changed on a dime and whom the audience first enthusiastically wooed then booed. Audience participation in the form of clapping, cheering, and jeering was highly encouraged and was a big part of why this show is so enjoyable for all ages.

Other lead players also had a chance to demonstrate the extremes of their acting chops; Connie Shibley as Brunhilda and Amanita Phalloides, and Beth Freeland in her two opposing sides as stepmother to the lead siblings both showed they have what it takes. Similarly, father Wilhelm (Piotr Rauchfleisch) played his role as an innocent and victimized dad with aplomb and his scenes with Freeland were classic comedy given their polar opposites in both form and temperament. Alison Williams as the Fairy Godmother was a sheer joy to behold, a natural to the stage and who, due to an early wand mishap, gets the classic stories and situations hilariously befuddled. Dick Miller as Inspector Wombat and his sidekick Dalton Hurren as Sergeant Ringworm made a hilarious sleuthing duo. The show’s costumer designer, Debbie Lovegrove, is truly gifted and though this production was no doubt a challenge, she definitely rose to it and brilliantly surpassed the mark, creating some very memorable and clever costumes that added to the cartoonish, campy feel of the show.

The sets by Robert Rowe and Dave King were similarly clever and simple, with turnstile forest trees changing into a cozy indoor hearth and with the actors taking full advantage of the space in front of the stage where much of the action occurred. In the second act the stage opened up revealing the inside of a candy house, a simple and aptly decorated set equipped with cage, stove, witch’s broom, wood pile and a glowing bright fire light.

Part mystery, part mockery and a full-on high jinks tale with many unseen twists, the play was one of the best I have seen to date by Doug MacIntyre, who never fails to put his heart and soul into every show that he stages. Hansel and Gretel is one of his best and those who missed the first two performances have no fear. There are two more this coming weekend - Sat. Nov. 1 at 7pm and Sun. Nov. 2 at 2pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children 12 years of age and under and are available at the door or at Verona Convenience Store, Verona Drug Mart, Verona Hardware and Asselstine Hardware.