Playgoers of Lethbridge is winding up their 100th anniversary year by putting on a pantomime — something they haven’t done in a very long time.
They are putting on The Snow Queen, a Hans Christian Andersen tale adapted by Alan Frayn.
“It‘s a play that uses stereotypical characters. There’s the dame, the villain, the principal boy, the principal girl, the simple Simon and the wise man,” said director Elaine Jagielski who has always wanted to produce a pantomime.
She enjoyed the story of the Snow Queen.
“ I read the script and thought it was really funny,” she said
She is holding auditions for the show in the casa community room, Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m..
She is looking for approximately 20 actors (nine main roles) and possibly as many as 30 with a variety of skills including drama, dance and singing. Though not all characters dance and sing.
“When I was a kid we’d come into the city to see a pantomime,” she said, noting they are usually aimed at children.
“ though there is double entendres that adults would get, but kids would just pass over. But it’s for the most part a kids show,” she said
It will be a full production with a music director and choreographer to be named as well as feature a chorus. The show will take place Nov. 7-12 in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, including matinees at 2 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday of the run.
“ Usually pantomimes are around Christmas time, but nothing was available this year,” she said.
“ It‘s going to be such a treat because the characters are so exaggerated,” she said adding she is looking for actors of all ages, genres and skill levels.
Rehearsals will begin in September two or three times a week depending on the role and on people’s schedules, but she would like to do a read through at the end of July.
— By Richard Amery, L.A.beat Editor
