Snow White - The Sequel is Guaranteed to Put You in the Holiday Spirit

You’ll cheer. You’ll boo. You’ll even talk back to the performers during Snow White - The Sequel, the next offering in the Town Players of New Canaan’s 70th anniversary season.

And, that’s exactly what director Patrick Kiley, music director Ken Knox, and the 25+ cast members want you to do. After all, it’s a “panto,” a long-standing musical-comedy theatrical tradition that originated in the United Kingdom where part of the fun is audience participation.

“Panto is playful, inventive family entertainment that begins with a familiar story or fairy tale and takes off from there,” says Patrick. “There’s physical comedy, slapstick, and crazy role reversals and that equals holiday fun for all.”

“You never know what’s going to happen when you’re in a panto,” says Stephen DiRocco, who plays Dame Nefertiti and who has performed in two other pantos. “Audiences in New Canaan are the best. They take to the Panto format immediately and both we, the performers, and they have the time of our lives.”

Shannon Riccio, who will appear as the iconic fairytale heroine, Snow White, is another panto veteran, who recently returned to Connecticut from overseas.

“When I knew I'd be in Connecticut for this year's show, I knew I had to audition for the panto again,” says Shannon. “Other plays may occasionally break the fourth wall, but panto encourages it. No two performances will ever be quite the same, which is exciting and rewarding for both the actors and the audience.”

The plot of Snow White - The Sequel, such as it is, take place 20 years after Snow White and her true love have been living happily ever after. They’ve two sons and two daughters, and all is well until wicked Queen Elvira returns determined to retake the kingdom. There’s a magic mirror, fairies, two bumbling henchmen, a very confused jester, and, of course, the seven dwarfs.

Performances are December 2 and 9 at 8 p.m., and December 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 2:30 p.m. The December 3 performance will benefit Toys for Tots and the price of admission for children for this one performance is an unwrapped toy.

The show will take place at the Powerhouse Performing Arts Center in Waveny Park, 679 South Avenue, New Canaan.

For tickets, call 203-966-7371 or visit www.TPNC.org.

PHOTO

Snow White – The Sequel takes place 20 years after Snow White married her true love, but the dwarfs are still around to help when evil Queen Elvira returns. Staged by the Town Players of New Canaan, this family holiday show runs for two weekends starting December 2. For tickets, call 203-966-7371. (l-r)

Antonia Kolb and Aine Stevens of New Canaan; Jonathan David of Seymour; Terry LeBel of Shelton; Peyton Straubel of Darien; Ed Donahue of Bridgeport. (Photo credit: Marcus Vinci)