Puss In Boots Brings Panto to North Bay

  Thousands of Brits living in the North Bay undoubtedly share all sorts of fond recollections of their childhood trips to the annual post-Christmas pantomime at the local playhouse.

Panto is good, old-fashioned audience participation at it's best, with frequent calls of "did he do it?", bad guys, good guys, a prancing female lead prince, dames in traditional drag, beanstalks, pumpkin carriages, magic mirrors, puss in boots....

Which leads me to the happy announcement of Stark Ravens Historical Players presentation of  “Panto! The Musical Fairytale Adventure” for three days beginning Feb. 15 at the “Little Theater” on Drake High School campus in San Anselmo.

This laugh-out-loud, lavish and fresh-faced production introduces a singing-and-dancing Puss ‘N Boots, Red Riding Hood, tap dancing lobsters and the ever-popular Evil Spider King. Bay Area children of all ages  should take a trip to see this sumptuous spectacle in the newly renovated Little Theater.

Truly a one-of-a-kind theatrical experience for American audiences and in my honest ex-pat opinion, one of the best quality pantomimes in production anywhere in the world.

For pantos in Britain have become a little silly and sometimes seedy with the typical star casting of a faded ex-celeb and the gradual decline of many an inner city playhouse. Still lots of fun, but nowhere near as authentic as a Stark Raven production.

“Kids and adults love Panto. It’s filled with good fairy queens and evil spider kings, mermaids, and clowns – Kids understand the fantasy of it,”San Rafael resident and “Panto!” producer Chase Williams explained.  Stark Ravens directors have built up a richly layered show by performing it during the last five seasons at the San Francisco Dickens Fair.

“Panto! The Musical Fairytale Adventure” runs at 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 17, at the Drake High School Little Theater, with matinees at 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The program includes a traditional Punch and Judy puppet show and live music before curtain time. Tickets are available at Doodlebugs Toy Store in San Anselmo and D’Lynes Dancewear in San Rafael.  For complete show times, online discount tickets and press photos, see www.PANTOMARIN.com

 

Comments

[Lindsey]

Fab! I hope it takes off. We just went to see a 'new style' panto at the Old Vic theatre (where Kevin Spacey is creative director), written by Stephen Fry. Last year it starred Sir Ian McKellan as the Dame and other big name actors attracted by the calibre of writing and the theatre reputation. I love a panto, tacky or 'clever' and look forward to taking our new daughter to one each year for her birthday treat!

[Frances]

Bravo, Lindsey, excellent timing on annual birthday outing! The new style panto sounds appealing. I do recall a certain new Mum as star of Aladdin in the traditional hometown panto not too many moons ago. Do you still have the photos?

[Lindsey]

I do but they're not available for internet usage (HA!!)