Événement

Scouts Honor: The Whichever Scouts vs. The Energy Monster

If there was a moto for the Arcata Playhouse panto process, it might be, Artists who play together stay together.
Now in its fourth year, this annual tradition brings together writers who work together for a couple of months before the holidays, to improvise and write and improvise and write, working, molding and coagulating together to build the decorative, tinsel, star-topped tree holiday show for the Arcata Playhouse.
The writing crew and cast is a veritable Santas sack of talent from across Humboldt, including music written by members of the band led by Tim Randall and Jeff Kelly, with additional harmonies from the Blue Lake Community Choir. All have their part to play in the romp, which includes a fresh crop of performers, some of whom are stepping onstage for the very first time.
The Playhouse prides itself on nurturing actors through an apprenticeship model: bringing them together with seasoned performers, such as David Powell (Mama Scout) and Sarah Peters (Dr. Energy) who, like Santa, know how to deliver presence.
On the subject of bad puns, English Pantomime is a special form of theatre that happens all across the United Kingdom, in theatres large and small, to celebrate the holidays. The name does not mean you will see silent actors lifting invisible ropes and boxes! This popular form can be traced to a production 300 years ago at the Drury Lane Theatre in London, and it takes its characters and broad comedy from the Italian street theatre of the 1500s known as Commedia dellArte. Many of the traditions expected in a panto include, a leading male played by a female, a pantomime dame ( a lady played by a man), comedy ranging from bad puns to satire, audience participation (such as booing and hissing the villain), a good old sing along, dancing and local acts thrown in for good measure.
This year they have well and truly mixed up and maxed out the holiday Panto, by taking the behemothic, over-the-top monster-movie format and crossing it with some gender-bending Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys sleuths. Added to the determination of the Whichever Scouts are a beloved dog sidekick (James Peck), and two comedic squirrels. With different guest performers folded into the show every night, this madcap extravaganza will have something in it for the whole family.
Scouts Honor: The Whichever Scouts vs. The Energy Monster runs for only 6 performances at the Arcata Playhouse, December 5-14, 7:30 pm, with a 2 pm matinee on December 8.