{"id":40253,"date":"2022-11-17T15:06:18","date_gmt":"2022-11-17T20:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=40253"},"modified":"2022-11-17T15:06:21","modified_gmt":"2022-11-17T20:06:21","slug":"on-stage-a-fun-panto-from-peoples-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=40253","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: A fun ‘Panto’ from People’s Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Alice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Christmas holidays arrive, it means it\u2019s also time for a panto arrive at People\u2019s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern,\u00a0peopleslight.org<\/a>). This year, it\u2019s \u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto,\u201d which is running now through January 1, 2023.<\/p>\n

Each year, the People\u2019s Light holiday panto transforms a beloved children\u2019s story into a musical extravaganza filled with outrageous characters, toe-tapping original music, slapstick comedy, and topical humor for both kids and adults.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re wondering what a \u201cpanto\u201d is \u2013 here\u2019s the answer.<\/p>\n

Emerging from commedia dell\u2019arte, the Twelfth Night holiday, and the Festival of Fools, the Christmas \u201cpantomime\u201d dates back to the 18th century and remains the most popular theatre form in Great Britain. In a single year, 19 pantos played in London and 187 in the rest of the country. Over the past two decades, People\u2019s Light has tailored the British form into its own unique brand of holiday hilarity, attracting thousands of visitors every holiday season. <\/p>\n

Traditionally, pantos typically take a well-known fairy tales or other favorite children\u2019s story and turn it on its ear. Favorite stories, which have inspired countless different pantos, are Aladdin, Robin Hood, Cinderella, Dick Wittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks and Snow White.<\/p>\n

These familiar stories form the basis for exaggeration, variation and topical social commentary, as well as outrageous jokes, humorous songs, sprightly dances and, sometimes, a strangely affecting love story. The tradition has developed some fairly rigid conventions of plotting, casting and story.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the familiar elements that audiences at People\u2019s Light have come to relish: The Dame: a boisterous yet benevolent matriarch played by a man in a fabulous dress; a hero (sometimes played by a woman); a heroine; and a stock villain; \u201cSkin roles,\u201d animal pals who help our hero in his or her adventures; a comic duo; A basic story that explores themes of love, friendship, and good vs. evil; music, dance, and slapstick; audience participation: boo, cheer, even argue with the characters onstage; satire of local events, government policies, and famous people; a \u201cslosh scene\u201d or \u201cmessy bit\u201d: a slapstick routine with something wet, gooey, and\/or slippery; a \u201ccandy bit\u201d: the actors throw candy into the audience, sometimes by the villain\u2019s lackeys to get information about the hero; and silly songs that the audience joins in singing.<\/p>\n

Since the 18th century, audiences have gathered in droves to enjoy the songs, jokes, costumes and treats of this Christmas celebration. At People\u2019s Light, they are having great fun joining this tradition and adjusting it to the theater\u2019s culture and aesthetic.<\/p>\n

The beloved holiday tradition returns to People\u2019s Light with the world premiere of \u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto.\u201d The show, which is directed by Bill Fennelly, features book by Jennifer Childs and music and lyrics by Alex Bechtel.<\/p>\n

On her first day of middle school, Alice Liddle stumbles upon a strange book in the library and ends up in a mysterious, magical place. Audiences are urged to cheer the heroes, boo the bad guys, and help Alice find her way home in this panto-tastic take on Lewis Carroll\u2019s madcap classic.<\/p>\n

As \u201cthe nation\u2019s primary creator of such specialized tomfoolery\u201d (Newsworks) for almost two decades, People\u2019s Light has adapted the theatrical form of British pantomime into its own unique brand of holiday hilarity. Audiences of all ages gather to partake in the songs, dances, topical jokes, and jovial camaraderie of this longstanding tradition.<\/p>\n

This year, People\u2019s Light is welcoming two Philadelphia icons to the panto family — comedy legend Jennifer Childs writes the book and award-winning drag performer Eric Jaffe is the audience\u2019s new guide through the magical mayhem \u2013 and two veterans — Bill Fennelly, who also directed 2019\u2019s\u00a0\u201cLittle Red Robin Hood<\/a>,\u201d and composer\/lyricist Alex Bechtel, who penned the music and lyrics for 2016\u2019s\u00a0\u201cSleeping\u00a0<\/a>Beauty<\/a>\u201d\u00a0and has appeared as an actor in multiple past pantos.<\/p>\n

The People\u2019s Light panto is entertainment for the entire family, and the audience is part of the action.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a family event,\u201d said Childs, during a phone interview last week. \u201cIt has something for all ages. There are opportunities in panto for audience interaction. There are contemporary references. It keeps it very live. This is my first panto. I\u2019ve seen several pantos but I\u2019ve never been in one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Playwright Jennifer Childs is co-founder of 1812 Productions, which is the only professional theatre company in the country dedicated to comedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy work with 1812 is an overlap,\u201d said Childs. \u201cOur shows are very audience participatory. 1812 is an all-comedy theater company. We perform established works, and we also make our own works. It\u2019s like The Daily Show meets The Carol Burnett Show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughter is a recurring theme in Childs\u2019 work.<\/p>\n

According to Childs, \u201cWhile this is my first time writing a panto, I\u2019ve discovered a lot of similarities between the panto form and my work at 1812 Productions. And I love that the panto addresses real things that kids experience, like starting a new school, in a fun and engaging way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto\u201d has been in the works for quite a while.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was supposed to happen in 2019 \u2013 before COVID hit,\u201d said Childs. \u201cWe kept working and working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, live theater came back to life late last year.<\/p>\n

Last December, People\u2019s Light presented a world premiere of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d \u2013 a version of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d adapted from Charles Dickens by Zak Berkman.<\/p>\n

Featuring a lively mix of original songs and newly arranged 19th-century English carols, this music-infused retelling captured the magic, joy, and generosity of Dickens\u2019 beloved classic.<\/p>\n

But \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d\u00a0was not a\u00a0panto. It featured music-filled, interactive fun for every age, but it lacked the necessary ingredients to be a panto.<\/p>\n

\u201cLive theater is still in the process of coming back to life \u2013 trying to keep our performers safe and keep our audiences safe,\u201d said Childs. \u201cPeople are eager to get out \u2013 eager for a community experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lot of audience interaction with panto. All of the characters interact with the audience. The audience members boo for the bad guys and cheer for the good guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used the Alice story as a jumping off point. It\u2019s set in middle school. Alice is running away from a situation \u2013 similar to the \u2018Wizard Oz.\u2019 Why does she have to go to Wonderland? There is something specific she has to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Childs graduated for the University of Virginia with a degree in acting and then went to England where she worked in London and Oxford.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I left England, I came back to Philadelphia,\u201d said Childs. \u201cThe city in the early 90s was a very good place for artists and actors.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also has been a very good place for comedic writers and performers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been involved with comedy for a long time,\u201d said Childs. \u201cNow, I\u2019m trying panto.<\/p>\n

\u201cI come at panto with new eyes. With this show, we\u2019ve honored the panto tradition and, at the same time, made it feel new and in the moment. The Dame is played by Eric Jaffe, an astonishing performer and drag queen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very inclusive show. The extra sparkle is born out of this. We want a really joyful explosion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show at People\u2019s Light will through January 1. Ticket prices start at $47.<\/p>\n

On November 18, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is presenting a show with an international flavor and a local touch.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Antje Duvekot<\/p><\/div>\n

The headliner is singer\/songwriter Antje Duvekot, who was born and raised in Germany. The opening act is Barry Rabin, a singer\/songwriter who was born and raised in Coatesville.<\/p>\n

Duvekot was born in Germany and spent her younger years in Heidelberg. She moved to the United States when she was 14. Since then, she has also lived in New York City and a small town on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brasil.\u00a0She now resides in Lincoln, Massachusetts \u2013 a Boston suburb.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to America with my mom when I was 14,\u201d said Duvekot. \u201cShe had been teaching at the University of Heidelberg but then decided to get divorced from my dad. I had never been to the states before, but she was coming back to her home country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe moved to Greenville, Delaware and it was a very difficult time for me. I was in high school, but I didn\u2019t really understand the language. My first musical influences were German folk songs. I only discovered radio and pop music when I came over here.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started writing songs when I was in high school. Then, I went to college and was majoring in history at the University of Delaware. I did my first performances when I was in college \u2013 playing shows in dorms and also at a little coffee shop in Newark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duvekot has extensive touring experience, crisscrossing the US and Europe many times. She is a compelling live performer and has been invited to play some of the top festivals including The Newport Folk Festival as well as the Mountain Stage, Philadelphia and Kerrville Festivals. Internationally, she\u2019s headlined the The Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and the Tonder Festival in Denmark.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s the winner of some of the top songwriting awards, including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious, Kerrville (TX) \u201cBest New Folk Award\u201d and, in one of the nation\u2019s top music markets, the Boston Music Award for \u201cOutstanding Folk Act\u201d, three of the top prizes in the singer songwriter world.<\/p>\n

Duvekot\u2019s first album \u201cLittle Peppermints\u201d was a live CD released in 2002. The album was filled with strong songs \u2013 tunes with insightful lyrics and pleasant melodies. It was a disc that served as an introduction to Duvekot\u2019s impressive potential as both a singer and a songwriter.<\/p>\n

The same year, Duvekot toured with the Irish group Solas. Impressed with Duvekot\u2019s songwriting talent, Solas recorded two of her songs — \u201cThe Poisonjester\u2019s Mask\u201d and \u201cBlack Annis\u201d — on their album \u201cThe Edge of Silence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duvekot followed \u201cLittle Peppermints\u201d with another live album, \u201cBoys, Flowers, Miles\u201d\u00a0in 2005. She released \u201cBig Dream Boulevard\u201d on Black Wolf Records in 2006. In 2008, Black Wolf released \u201cSnapshots.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018Snapshots\u2019 album was a compilation of the two live albums,\u201d said Duvekot. \u201cMy first real studio album was \u2018Big Dream Boulevard.\u2019 I also had another live album in 2011.\u201d<\/p>\n

From 2009-2016, Duvekot recorded three more albums \u2013 \u201cThe Near Demise of the Highwire Dancer\u201d\u00a0(2009), \u201cNew Siberia\u201d (2012) and \u201cToward the Thunder\u201d (2016).<\/p>\n

\u201cMy most recent album was \u2018Toward the Thunder\u2019,\u201d said Duvekot. \u201cI\u2019m working on a new album now tobe released in February or March. It\u2019s pretty far along. We\u2019re in the mixing stage now. It\u2019s toward the end of the process. Most of the album was recorded in my closet and other friends\u2019 houses. I use Logic and I use a producer \u2013 Mark Erelli. He plays a lot of different instriuuments on the album\u00a0 — drums, bass, guitar. It\u2019s more a full band sound , but some are a little more acoustic. It\u2019s a mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like many musicians, Duvekot had extra time to write because of the lockdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote a lot during the pandemic,\u201d said Duvekot. \u201cThe lockdown gave me time to write \u2013 but I don\u2019t think I wrote about the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duvekot\u2019s writing deals with life in a personal way.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to write more political songs, but my last two albums were more personal,\u201d said Duvekot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI write on guitar \u2013 it\u2019s my only instrument. Mostly, the music comes first and then that tells me what the lyrics should be. I do have agendas of what I want to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all very personal \u2013 songs about experience. That\u2019s the reason I started writing. It\u2019s always been very cathartic for me. It does put me in a bit of a vulnerable position, but it feels good to be honest. And, since it\u2019s through music, I can get detached.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Antje Duvekot \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/QvWgGu97Zeg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Barry Rabin<\/p><\/div>\n

Barry Rabin is a singer\/songwriter who was born and raised in Coatesville. He now lives in West Chester and is a wills\/estate lawyer with an office in Downingtown.<\/p>\n

Rabin graduated from Coatesville Area High School in 1974 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. He went on to get his law degree from Delaware Law School in Wilmington.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter college, I got bored and started playing music,\u201d said Rabin, during a phone interview Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a friend who had a garage in Unionville and would have people over every Tuesday night to pay together rinthe garage loft.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started doing that and it was fun. I began writing funny songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother friend told me about open mic nights that O\u2019Friels Irish Pub in Wilmington held once a month. I tried that. I played songs and people liked them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I continued writing songs and making music. I play folk music and perform at a lot of different folk clubs. I\u2019ve also performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival five times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rabin\u2019s most recent performance was at the 2022 Philadelphia Folk Festival back in August.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just enjoy writing songs and performing songs,\u201d said Rabin. \u201cI love opening for people. And I still do pretty much do all funny songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show at Kennett Flash on November 18 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Kennett Flash are The D Corridori Project on November 19, Jazz Jam on November 27, Dead Flowers on December 3, and Bryan Tuk Project on December 10.<\/p>\n

\"\"

The Rose Tree Pops Orchestra<\/p><\/div>\n

The Rose Tree Pops Orchestra (rosetreepops.org<\/a>) is presenting its fall concert, \u201cA Film Lover\u2019s Feast,\u201d on November 20.<\/p>\n

The group will perform its concert at 3 p.m. in the DeMoss Center for Worship and The Arts at Delaware County Christian School, which is located at 462 Malin Road in Newtown Square<\/p>\n

The orchestra, conducted by Dr. Roberta Winemiller, plans to share a tuneful \u201cfeast\u201d of film favorites. Selections from \u201cJurassic Park\u201d and \u201cChicago\u201d will have audience members humming along, and medleys from \u201cThe Lion King\u201d and \u201cFrozen\u201d will delight both the young and young-at-heart.<\/p>\n

Traditional classical pieces, such as Supp\u00e9’s \u201cLight Cavalry Overture,\u201d kick off the concert, and the group effortlessly transitions into Zawinul\u2019s \u201cBirdland\u201d and Ellington\u2019s \u201cTake the A Train\u201d to keep everyone\u2019s toes tapping.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is presenting The Cartoon Christmas on December 6, and The Last Big Band Holiday Show on December 20.<\/p>\n

The Sound Bank (119 South Main Street, Phoenixville, www.soundbankphx.com<\/a>) will host Street Shuffle on November 18.<\/p>\n

Phantom Power (121 West Frederick Street, Millersville, www.phantompower.net<\/a>) will have Couch on November 18, Brass Monkeys on November 26, Local H on December 3, Maya de Vitry on December 9, and Aunt Mary Pat on December 29.<\/p>\n

Colonial Theater (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, thecolonialtheatre.com\/events<\/a>) is hosting Jessica Lynn on December 9.<\/p>\n

Bruce Hornsby and his band will headline a show at the Scottish Rite Auditorium (315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, New Jersey, scottishriteauditorium.com<\/a>) on November 17. The South Jersey venue will also host Tower of Power on November 19.<\/p>\n

The Met (858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, http:\/\/themetphilly.com<\/a>) will host Michelle Obama on November 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0 When the Christmas holidays arrive, it means it\u2019s also time for a panto arrive at People\u2019s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern,\u00a0peopleslight.org). This year, it\u2019s \u201cAlice in Wonderland: A Musical Panto,\u201d which is running now through January 1, 2023. Each year, the People\u2019s Light holiday panto transforms a beloved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[13938,13939,13937,6518,13936],"class_list":["post-40253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-alice-in-wonderland-a-musical-panto","tag-antje-duvekot","tag-barry-rabin","tag-featured","tag-the-rose-tree-pops-orchestra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40253"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40254,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40253\/revisions\/40254"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}