Skip to content

Footlighters plays offer Creston a unique twist on fairy tale characters

Comedy is the name of the game when Footlighters Theatre Society presents Fractured Fairy Tales from Nov. 29-Dec.1...
11057crestonfractured_fairy_tales
Footlighters Theatre Society's 'Fractured Fairy Tales' runs Nov. 29-Dec. 1

Comedy is the name of the game when Footlighters Theatre Society presents Fractured Fairy Tales, the second production of its 18th season, from Nov. 29 to Dec.1 at the Prince Charles Theatre.

In a similar format to 2010’s Christmas-themed Season’s Grinnings (comprised of Happy Hollandaise and Misdeeds at Mistletoe Mine), the evening will consist of two one-act plays, this time offering a new twist on familiar fairy tale characters in Big Bad and The Quest for Quasi: How Little Red Got Her Hunch Back.

In Big Bad, the Big Bad Wolf (played by Suzanne Chubb) is put on trial for a variety of crimes. The Three Little Pigs (Zoe Fenrick, Marybeth Stenhouse and Emma Archambault), Red Riding Hood (T.J. van Hooft) and the Boy Who Cried Wolf (Axel Marini) take the stand in a trial prosecuted by the Evil Stepmother (Susan Jorgensen) and overseen by the Judge (Jordan Koop).

Reporter Sidney Grimm (Mary Roundy) and her cameraman (Colt Martin), Fairy Godmother (Gail Kitt), Grandmother Hood (Jennifer Dewald), Bill Woodcutter (Warren Bruns), Shepherd (Marc Archambault) and Miss Muffet (Jasmine Lothien) also feature in the courtroom comedy, which allows the audience to choose the final verdict.

“That adds something different for the audience and some excitement for the actors,” said Big Bad director Jon Smith. “I’ve been having a lot of fun randomly springing the possible endings on the cast during rehearsals.”

The Quest for Quasi also offered something different for the cast — the chance to play several roles in a single play.

“This is something we haven’t done for quite some time,” said director Brian Lawrence. “Even our last few musicals, which typically have many opportunities to play several roles, haven’t required an ensemble to double up on parts. With several short scenes with just a few characters in each, it made sense to give people two or three parts. It’s been a blast to see them make each of their roles different from the other.”

In The Quest for Quasi, Red Riding Hood (Jacqui Vezina) falls in love with Quasimodo (Vern Gorham), but the Wicked Witch of the West (Ann Deatherage) tells her that she can’t be with him until she collects Captain Hook’s hook, the Sword in the Stone and the Blue Fairy’s wand.

Through the course of the play, Red will encounter well-known fairy tale characters played by Greg Benty, Gwen Benty, Morgan Benty, Jason Smith, Cameron Nelson, Laura Nelson and Emilie Pinto.

Big Bad and The Quest for Quasi are part of a season that began in July with the melodrama Someone Save My Baby, Ruth and will conclude with the musical Annie, which runs April 11-13, 2013.

“This season really focused on family-friendly shows but ones that all ages will enjoy,” said Lawrence. “With Fractured Fairy Tales there is a lot of humour that adults will get a kick out of.”

Tickets for Fractured Fairy Tales ($10 for adults, $8 for seniors/students and $5 for children under 12) are available at Black Bear Books, Kingfisher Used Books and at the door. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.

Before Saturday’s show, don’t miss the 22nd annual Santa Claus Parade on Canyon Street!

—FOOTLIGHTERS THEATRE SOCIETY