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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 14, 2011 · 24 Artscene Cinderella pantomime comes to Meeting House stage By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Growing up in the United Kingdom, Rikki Wright and his family had a tradition of seeing pantomimes every Christmas season. But, when he arrived in Canada, the now-Oakville resident learned there was no such place to build a similar tradition with his own family. Not affordably, at least. But that is not stopping him. "It's a really good, fun family time," the chartered accountant and web designer said. "When you've experienced pantomime once, you long for the next one. I want to give the opportunity for people to build a family tradition ­ every year: pantomime." Wright is putting on a pantomime production of Cinderella at The Meeting House, with public performances scheduled for Dec. 16-18, and Dec. 27-31. "This should not get confused with mime," he said, noting the common mistake. "Pantomime is as far away from that as you can imagine. It's the noisiest form of theatre with kids shouting at the stage. Usually, you have a couple characters that will engage directly with the audience." In the United Kingdom, he said pantomime is a hugely popular my own opportunities by putting one on," he said. The idea to put on the pantomime came recently for the father of two young children. He took his children to the U.K for Christmas, where his parents still live. They went to see a pantomime. Upon returning to Canada, his children asked to go to a pantomime. There was a show in downtown Toronto. "For a family of four it was over $300 and we were right up in the nose-bleeds section," he said. "I thought this is not right, this is not what pantomime is all about. Pantomime is all about family and a tradition of being accessible to families." Adding the price of parking and dinner, the excursion cost him approximately $500. Too much, he said, for what is available in the U.K. for between £10 and £25 pounds. "I saw it as my duty to introduce this concept of pantomime as a fun, family, Christmas activity to Canadians and also to make it accessible," he said. Wright wrote the show, based on the traditional Cinderella with some modifications. He is also producer and director. He has hired professional performers from Oakville and beyond, which he notes wasn't easy because he's not in the theatre industry. See Providing page 25 ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER IF THE SHOE FITS: Cinderella (Amanda Lynn Juhl) tries on a slipper as she's watched by her ugly sisters, Ivana and Ilnyeva (Reza Sholeh and Mike McLay) and her wicked stepmother (Pamela Farrauto) in the Cinderella pantomime. form of theatre in December and January. "It's that holiday season. People get in that festive mood. It's one of those things people do at Christmas," he said. "You get all your b-list celebrities coming out, your local news readers, you kids' TV presenters, occasionally you'll have the puppets from the kids' TV shows. It's a real family mishmash." Growing up in that environment got him interested in theatre in the first place. He always hoped to be in a pantomime himself but it never happened back home. When he arrived in Canada, there were no opportunities for it. "I always wanted to be in one. I never thought I would be creating beauty & spa We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season. We still have spaces available before Christmas. Colour Correction, Hair Extensions x & Japanese Hair Straightening Voted Best Salon & Best Stylist (Bob Richardson) $ DECEMBER SPECIAL any colour service when you bring this ad! 1st Visit Only 25 OFF 518 POSTRIDGE DRIVE 905.257.7427 www.colouraddiction.com College Park Plaza 905-338-6465 · www.bob-r-shop.com