There’s a strong White Rock-South Surrey connection in the upcoming Christmas panto at Vancouver’s Metro Theatre.
The show Sinbad!, which runs from Dec. 7 to Jan. 1, was originally written for production at Metro more than 30 years ago by former Surrey resident – and 2023 Surrey Arts and Business Legacy Award-winner, Ellie King – well-known as ‘Queen of Pantos’ for her Royal Canadian Theatre Company shows at Surrey Arts Centre.
The story of an epic treasure hunt aboard the good ship Leaky Lucy, her 1989 script checks all the traditional pantomime boxes with plenty of rollicking adventure for all ages, demons to “boo”, heroes to cheer, eye-catching costumes and sets and songs to sing along with.
Starring as the title character is rising Peninsula theatre talent Adrian Shaffer, also well-known for their work in such White Rock pantomimes as Aladdin and last year’s The Magic Flute, as well as an actor (in such dramas as White Rock Players Club’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and this writer’s Blue Prelude, for Aristocratic Entertainment), and as director of White Rock Players Club’s recent production of Blithe Spirit.
Making his debut as director in Sinbad – as well as playing the Dame, ‘Vera Bad’, is Peninsula-raised James T. Walker, familiar to audiences for his spot-on comedic instincts as an actor in past Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan (now Fraser Valley Musical Theatre) and Metro pantomimes, as well as White Rock Players Club’s Spamalot and shows for Beach House Theatre.
Rounding out the local contingent is another prized local talent – in-demand theatre musical director and keyboardist Kerry O’ Donovan (director of WRPC’s recent The Fantasticks); and, like Walker, an Earl Marriott Secondary alumnus.
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Produced by Shel Piercy (Love it or List It Vancouver) and the Arts Club’s Shelley Stewart-Hunt, with choreography by Linzi Voth, Sinbad! also features Dimitrios Stephanoy (“a fantastic physical performer,” Walker said) as Sinbad’s brother Justus Bad; Matt Ramer as the ‘demon’ character the Old Man of the Sea; Chris McBeath as the Good Fairy; Ryan Hill as Davey Jones; Sara Antonia Gargaro as Princess Serena; Christine Santa Maria as Lady Finger and Lauren Ridder as Anne, Queen of the Pirates.
First exposed to theatre by watching White Rock pantomimes as a young boy, Walker later studied acting at Capilano University and the prestigious Circle in the Square in New York.
A working actor for the last two decades, he’s thoroughly enjoying his first-ever directorial assignment, he said – although he realizes he’s veered close to the ‘full’ mark, in dividing his attention between overseeing the production and donning the wig and dresses of Vera Bad.
“At first, I was thinking it doesn’t feel like I’m in the show as much this year as in previous pantomimes I’ve been involved with – but now I’m thinking, ‘thank God I’m not in this that much!’ ” he laughed,
He added that he has really appreciated the creative eye and “seasoned professionalism” of Piercy and Stewart-Hunt during the rehearsal process, particularly when he has to go up on stage himself.
“For the first time in a long time I feel that a lot of the things I learned at Circle in the Square are coming into full play,” he said.
“Our sets and costumes are looking gorgeous, and this is both a strong singing and a strong dancing pantomime – there is going to be something for all the senses with this one!”
Walker said he is enjoying working with both Shaffer and O’Donovan, whose talents – and professionalism – were well-known to him before he went into the show.
“Adrian is such a receptive performer – so open to suggestion, and experimenting with ideas, and so willing to show up with ideas.
“They’re so eager to take what you suggest and work with it – I love that about them,” he said.
“And working with Kerry has been delightful, especially when it comes up – as it has in rehearsal – how many years we actually have known each other.
“We both have enough information on each other that we find it easy to get along!” he laughed.
He said one of the imperatives of Sinbad! is to help bring back audiences to live theatre post-pandemic.
“And there’s no better way to do that than bring back people who’ve missed the traditional-style pantomime,” he added.
“There’s been a feeling that recent pantomimes, generally, have turned into year-in-review satirical shows, with a few pantomime bits thrown in,” he noted.
Walker said that, in this regard, he has also appreciated the expertise of King, who started her professional performing career in pantos in the U.K. and has long been an expert on panto’s long history – which evolved through the melding of elements of medieval masques and pageants, Shakespearean low comedy, Commedia del’Arte, 19th century Fairy Tale ballets and British music hall of the Victorian and early 20th century periods.
He’s very happy with his cast, he said, noting that they have followed his lead in making it a collaborative process in which everyone has a hand in the creation, while respecting his guidance in bringing together – out of the “beautiful chaos of panto” – a cohesive, disciplined product.
“All of our actors are so adaptable and creative – in fact, we started doing full runs of the show a week before schedule,” he said.
“When I wanted to direct, it was because I wanted to bring back a sense of joy in the theatre,” he added.
“I’m a firm believer that when you’re watching a performance on stage, and everyone is enjoying themselves, you can’t help but get caught up in that.”
Metro Theatre is located at 1370 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver. To buy tickets, visit metrotheatre.com