Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

By Sally Gander

The Paradise Theatre School Presents a Theater Schmeater Production

Theater Schmeater and The Paradise Theatre School announce the Chimacum premiere of Sally Gander’s Hansel and Gretel opening at 2:00 pm, Saturday, August 18 at H.J. Carroll Park.  Not your grandmother's Hansel and Gretel, this pantomimic adaptation tells you the rest of the story of what happens to the siblings after they stuff the mean old witch into the oven, turn the knob to broil, and return to a highly dysfunctional family life.

Written in the style of British Panto, Ms. Gander’s tale of Hansel and Gretel begins after the daring duo have fricasseed the Witch and returned to their slightly dysfunctional village and their highly dysfunctional family.  The geeky Hansel and the starving Gretel run amok through the woods torturing the Witch with their cleaver inventions while she tries to re-build the havoc caused the summer before by Hansel's cheeky tricks.  Meanwhile, their older sister Freda is left to take care of the home front, consoling their grief stricken mother and searching for her knight in shining armor.  Add a bumbling country constable, working class log cutters, and thinly disguised villains and Hansel and Gretel offers youngsters a lively retelling of an old story while amusing oldsters with adult conundrums and a bit of Brit irony.

British Pantomime, or Panto, is a unique English style that has developed over five centuries.  With its roots in the traveling Italian Commedia companies in the 16^th century, Panto evolved in swank London theaters and smaller provincial houses as popular entertainment that delighted the masses and often skewered the ruling classes with comedic satire.  In the 19^th century, Panto gained momentum in Music Halls throughout the island, incorporating music, standup comedians and specialty acts in a form that North American Colonists might call Vaudeville.  In the 20^th century, Panto became a staple for local and municipal festivals, often performed by volunteers from the general community.

Hansel and Gretel boasts a talented cast that includes Julia Griffin, Jay Irwin, Noah Luce, Amelia Meckler, Kendra Pierce, Nathan Pringle, Gina Marie Russell, Lantz Wagner, and Monica Wulzen.  Tarik Chakko provides musical accompaniment.  Goblins and dancers are played by interns Seth Tankus, Tamara Koltes, Andrea Taylor, and Meaghan Halverson.

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Hansel and Gretel is directed by Julia Griffin, with choreography by Kendra Pierce.  The costume designer is Julia Evanovich.  Scenic and properties design is by Suzi Tucker with assistance from Corrie Befort, Ashland Pym and Liz Roberts.  The production features original music composed by Michael Lengel.  Lisa A. Stahler is the stage manager with Jaime Shure as the assistant stage manager.                                                        

Hansel and Gretel has only one performance in Chimacum at 2:00 pm on August 18.  The Schmee/Paradise production of Hansel and Gretel is made possible in part by the generous support of 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

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Hansel and Gretel

By Sally Gander

Presented by The ParadiseTheatre School and Theater Schmeater

Performed at H.J. Carroll Park

2:00 pm, Saturday, August 18, 2012

ONE DAY ONLY for FREE

For more information go to

http://schmeater.org/

or call 206-324-5801

Contact: 

Doug Staley

pr@schmeater.org

The Paradise Theatre School’s mission is to train artistic leaders to create and tell stories that address the problems and possibilities of our time. This performance will help benefit The Paradise’s remodel and upgrades of their artistic home, an old country chapel at 161 Center Road in Chimacum.