A 91原创 actor wanted his mother芒鈧劉s legacy to continue.
That芒鈧劉s why James King stepped up to take on the directorial role in the Royal Canadian Theatre Company芒鈧劉s upcoming production of Sleeping Beauty.
The curtain goes up this weekend on the theatre company芒鈧劉s traditional British pantomime, this time with 38-year-old James at the helm.
芒鈧揈llie (his mother) has been directing pantos for a very long time, and she wanted to retire because it芒鈧劉s a staggering amount of work. But, so important was it to me that the panto continue, that I didn芒鈧劉t see any other choice but to carry on in her stead,芒鈧� James told the 91原创 Advance.
芒鈧揟here was never any questions that I would take on the role when Ellie stepped down, because it means the world to me,芒鈧� added James, who played the Demon King consistently for the past 15 of his 20 years in his mother芒鈧劉s pantomime and served as assistant director for several years.
芒鈧揈llie芒鈧劉s pantos have been delighting both the audiences and those of us who are involved for decades, and I couldn芒鈧劉t imagine all of that coming to an end. So, to be honest, it didn芒鈧劉t enter my mind that I wouldn芒鈧劉t take up the torch, as it were,芒鈧� he said.
Following on the heels of last year芒鈧劉s success with Cinderella, Ellie 芒鈧�� the matriarchal thespian 芒鈧�� offered a retelling of the age-old fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
The curtain is set to go up on the production Friday at Surrey Arts Centre, but it芒鈧劉s been a long-time in the works, James explained.
The 37-member cast has been working since the beginning of September, with rehearsals just about every weekend and a lot of other work going on behind the scenes to make it possible.
James described pantomimes as a 芒鈧揾uge undertaking,芒鈧� with an enormous cast compared to most shows 芒鈧�� which means loads of costumes, lots of sets, special effects, props, music, and plenty of people working behind the scenes.
Of course, while Ellie King has stepped back from the duties of director, she芒鈧劉s still one of those involved behind the scenes for this production.
She芒鈧劉s the playwright, as well as a painter and the assistant director. But the King family involvement doesn芒鈧劉t end there.
James芒鈧劉 father is the musical director, scenic carpenter, and master of special effects. And James芒鈧劉 13-year-old stepdaughter Emily 芒鈧�� who was first drawn into the fold five years ago 芒鈧�� is also in the cast for Sleeping Beauty.
芒鈧揚anto is all about family, and you only have to look at our company to see that,芒鈧� James said, noting there are several other families involved, too 芒鈧�� both on and off stage.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re all about getting young people involved in theatre, which is why we have our mentor programs and that tends to bring families in together.芒鈧�
Family tradition aside, James was asked why he is so passionate about pantomime, versus other types of theatre productions.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s difficult to point to a single quality that makes panto my absolute favourite,芒鈧� he said.
芒鈧揑n the form of panto itself, there芒鈧劉s the history 芒鈧�� of course 芒鈧�� dating back as far as the commedia dell芒鈧劉arte of the 16th century and the traditions and conventions that have been established in the centuries since, but there are also the eccentricities peculiar to panto that you won芒鈧劉t find in any other theatrical forms, like the pantomime dame and the principal boy.
芒鈧揚antos are funny, but they芒鈧劉re also uplifting, magical, and moving, filled with adventure and excitement in the way unique to the fairy tails on which many panto stories are based. They芒鈧劉re alive and dynamic in a way that most theatre can芒鈧劉t be because the audience is actively part of the show, and can interact with the characters,芒鈧� said the die-hard actor, who said the hardest part about this year芒鈧劉s production is that he芒鈧劉s not on stage.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s the first time in 20 years that I芒鈧劉ve not had a role in the panto, so while I love what I芒鈧劉m doing, there芒鈧劉s something very special about being on the stage and part of the show, and I miss that very much.芒鈧�
The Willoughby man started participating in his mother芒鈧劉s pantomimes a few decades ago, his first production being Puss In Boots.
芒鈧揑芒鈧劉ve seen other pantos, of course, but I芒鈧劉ve never wanted to work with any other company because I find that Ellie (Mom) best holds on the traditions that I think are extremely important,芒鈧� James said.
芒鈧揚anto is about contemporary humour, of course, but it芒鈧劉s very much about tradition, and Ellie芒鈧劉s pantos adhere most closely to the traditions that make pantos so popular all over the world, while still bringing new approaches and content to the traditional format.芒鈧�
It芒鈧劉s fair to say that pantos have become a tradition, not only in the King family, but among many of their friends.
芒鈧揑 can芒鈧劉t imagine working with another company, to be honest, any more than I can imagine having another family,芒鈧� he said.
Two days before the launch of Ellie King芒鈧劉s Sleeping Beauty, James excitement was growing.
芒鈧揑 feel absolutely confident that we芒鈧劉re ready to open, and I can芒鈧劉t wait to see the audience enjoy the show as much as I do,芒鈧� he said.
芒鈧揈ven having seen it as often as I have, the cast still make me laugh so hard it hurts, and they still have those sweet, stirring, and dramatic moments that have always made panto so marvelous.芒鈧�
The show runs Dec. 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at 3 p.m., as well as 7 p.m. on Dec. 19, 20, and 27. Ticket prices vary, but are available at 604-501-5566.
The team will also be taking the panto to Maple Ridge three shows at The ACT, 3 p.m. on Jan. 3 and 7 p.m. on Jan. 2 and 3. For tickets to those shows, people can call 604-476-2787.
Asked why someone would want to come out for this show, James didn芒鈧劉t hesitate in his response:
芒鈧揝imply put, panto is magic. It芒鈧劉s family entertainment that everyone loves, with something for everybody; there芒鈧劉s music, comedy, sword fighting, slapstick, heroes to cheer, and villains to boo, and so much more.芒鈧�
