Korda offers up gingerbread holiday musical opening Dec. 5

Article content

Korda Artistic Productions’s trashy, silly, fresh take on a familiar tale, with loads of audience participation, will jazz up the holiday season for audiences of all ages.

Article content

Hansel und Gretel: Behind the Gingerbread! opens Dec. 5 for a two-week run.

The holiday panto, or pantomime, is told in the style of a trashy daytime talk show, complete with “commercials” thrown in.

Article content

“Expect silliness for the kids, naughty jokes for the grown-ups, bad drag, great music, magic, mayhem, and loads of audience participation for everyone in a goofy, delightful, all-ages musical production to close out Korda’s 21^st Season in style!” Korda organizers said.

The show features a book and lyrics by Tracey B. Atin, Jeff Marontate and the late Terry B. Ware. Music is by the late Robert Godden.

Mark Worsley directs the production, which Korda previously staged in 2009 and 2014.

“We are having a blast bringing this Korda Classic back to life,” Worsley said. “It’s very exciting to see young actors so engaged with material that was written by our founding members back when the company started.

“This show is fun for all ages. Kids will relate to classic fairytale story and characters and the ability to interact with the cast,” he added.

“Adults will be taken in by the hilarious references to daytime TV programs they are familiar with. And everyone will love the slapstick silliness of the production.”

Additional writing and commercial updates have been written by Eric Miinch.

Article content

Cavelle Doucet-Lefebvre provides musical direction while choreography is handled by Bo Dominguez.

A holiday panto or pantomime is a theatrical performance that typically takes place around the winter holidays and is based on a well-known children’s story or fairy tale.

Pantos, a British tradition dating back to the 18^thcentury, are known for being entertaining for the whole family.

Hansel und Gretel: Behind the Gingerbread! continues with performances Dec. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Evening performances begin at 7 p.m., matinee shows at 2 p.m., at The KordaZone Theatre, at 2520 Seminole St.

Tickets are $20, $15 for students and seniors, or $65 for a family four-pack (minimum four tickets required), available at the door or in advance at showpass.com/kordahanselundgretel.

[email protected]

twitter.com/KotsisStar

Share this article in your social network