Pantomime has a lot in common with fruitcake: no one asks for it, but its schmaltzy excess is a sign of the season and sure to make any recipient laugh.
With Hansel and Gretel: An East Van Panto, Theatre Replacement has forged ahead with tradition to bring Christmas panto to the masses for a third year, pulling East Vancouver-related issues through the keyhole into the setting of a classic fairytale.
Building on past themes of real estate (Jack and the Beanstalk) and hipsters (Cinderella), this season scriptwriter and comedian Charlie Demers has sharpened his knives and carved into Vancouver’s self-serious food scene. Set to the tune of Hansel and Gretel – the cautionary Brothers Grimm tale of hapless children who stumble upon a dodgy gingerbread house in the woods – East Van Panto puts the twins in the clutches of power-hungry food bloggers who decided to ditch their kids in Stanley Park.
Few left-leaning political stones, from the transit plebiscite to Stephen Harper’s ousting are left unturned – finding their way into the script in truly amusing moments. Meanwhile musician Veda Hille rocks the panto’s song and dance numbers with samples from Drake, One Direction, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles and more.
As both the evil stepmother and hippie “Sandwitch”, Allan Zinyk nails his shtick, shrieking, shaking his pink, power-suited tush and contorting his face to maximum baddie effect.
The scamp Hansel, however, (played by the incredibly watchable Dawn Petten) is the star of the show, riffing off Maiko Yamamoto’s sweet Gretel with lovable bravado. Their comedic efforts are aided by Marina Szijarto’s flawless costumes, Laura Zerebeski’s enchanting Emily Carr-esque backdrops, and the pure gumdrop sweetness of the pintsized woodland kidlets who emerge occasionally to play.
And while the show loses momentum in the second act – food puns and novelty somewhat wearing off – East Van Panto is a colourful comedy smorgasbord for the kids, and a feast of funnies for the adults in tow.
• On until Jan. 3 at the York Theatre (639 Commercial). Tickets from $20; Tickets.TheCultch.com
