In celebration of its 20th anniversary of entertaining in the Powell River area, Theatre Now! Company will be presenting Panto at the OK Corral by Jim Spernick, a traditional British pantomime with a Wild West theme.
Directed by Nicole Narbonne, this family-friendly event features singing, dancing and lots of terrible jokes. “Many people helped put this show on the road,” said Narbonne. She credited Mariah Sheridan of Sheridan Dance Academy, Zumba instructor Mike Clancy, as well as Gord Ruedig, of Stardusters Square Dance club. “They worked with the cast to choreograph such hilarity as the “Musical Ride” with 18 hobby horses.
Accompanied by the Hogweed Blackberry Broom Band plus banjos, the singing is intended for the children to join in even if they don’t know the words.
The chaos begins with Diamond Lil (Louise Gloslee) taking over as the new owner of Last Chance Saloon, only to find the town in turmoil. Sheriff Small Holding (Brian Liddle) wants to kick Winnie Pegg (Narbonne) off her ranch and marry her beautiful daughter “Calamity” Jane (Kayla Ross). Winnie’s son “Jessie” James (Maenyn Forsythe) and their “is that a horse?” Lightning (Carla Moberly) try to keep Winnie’s spirits up.
The Sheriff’s two deputies, Butch Casserole and the Sun Tanned Kid (Samantha Newport and Sheila Harker), have a very hard time getting anything right. Enter Clint Wildwood (Zane Peters), the hero to save the day.
With the help of her friends, Goldie Nuggets (Melissa Rogers) and her gold diggers (Larry Rogers and Nicole Townsend) plus the saloon gals Buttons and Bows (Barb Richards and Marion Kempe), Buffalo Bill (Paul Wiltse) and Star Ken-A-Kid (Shainil Jessa), they have to find a way to stop the sheriff.
Panto at the OK Corral will run at 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and a matinee at 1:30 pm on Sundays for the next two weekends, January 30 to February 1, and February 6 to February 8, the latter being Family Day weekend. Admission is by donation at the Evergreen Theatre entrance.