xWhite Rock Players' Club
Babes in the Wood

Dates and Venue 3 – 27 December 2014, Wed – Sat 7.30pm (Sat & Sun 2:30pm Matinees) | Coast Capital Playhouse, White Rock

Reviewer Ed Farolan

It was an enjoyable matinee in this annual classic Pantomime tale chosen to celebrate WRPC's 70th Season. Join classic characters on a journey where good prevails over evil. Boo the bad guy, cheer on the good guy, and sing along with Shenanigans. Hunter Golden as the Demon, always the favourite of the crowd as he loves to be heckled and booed, as usual got the biggest accolade. Of course, there were cheers for the good gal, Kay Ariel Lozada as Fairy Twinkle, and naturally, the biggest star of all, Bryce Mills as Mother Hubbard. I believe Bryce is the only professional actor in the group. Supporting characters are Ryan Elliot as Duke Don Darling, Scott Townsend as Simple Simon; Mackenzie Claus as Jill, Lionel Rust as Pip, Emma Harvery as Squeak, and and YooRa Kang as Jack.

Well-directed by Lisa Pavilionis, and produced by WRPC Prez Fred Partridge, the play has almost all the fairy tale nursery characters ----Jack and Jill, Mother Hubbard, Simple Simon, Mary and her little lambs, Jack Horn, Red Riding Hood, etc. Young and old in the audience were delighted with this classic tale made local, as it takes place in Novelrock, and it uses current events such as teachers' strikes and the Turkey Avian flu. Shenanigans the giraffe, the mascot of all WRPC pantos and of course, the theme song of WRCP's panto, sung by Mills and Elliott, "The Wonderful Year We Fell in Love", with lyrics reflecting the events of 2014.

In this panto, when Pip and Squeak show up on Jack and Jill's wedding day the whole town welcomes them with open arms but their treacherous uncle shows up to take them away. Is it their uncle or a demon in disguise? Come and see this panto and it'll make your day in this holiday season!

© 2014 Ed Farolan