Pantomime (or panto) shows are popular in Britain at holiday time. They usually incorporate song, dance, buffoonery and audience participation.
![Julia McLellan is the titular heroine and and Jamie McKnight is the Prince in Snow White: The Panto now playing at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.[Submitted]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/post_arts_snowwhite.jpg)
A classic fairytale, Disneyfied like so many, gets a right proper makeover in time for the holidays. This time around it’s Snow White getting the panto treatment from Drayton Entertainment, no stranger to the genre.
Snow White: The Panto runs at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse until December 21. It’s fine family fare, as the audience is encouraged to cheer for the heroes, boo the villains and generally ooh and ahh as indicated.
While played for comic effect, this Snow White contains all of the recognizable elements: the beautiful heroine of the story, the Prince, the dwarves, the evil Queen and her magic mirror.
“Snow White is a timeless story that appeals to every generation,” says Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment.
As the leading lady in this charming story, Julia McLellan is wide-eyed and winsome as Snow White. McLellan is familiar to Drayton audiences, having recently starred as Ariel Moore in the production of Footloose at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Jamie McKnight, who recently finished the national tour and Toronto productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard of Oz, takes on the role of the handsome Prince Justin.
Jackie Mustakas is the wicked Queen Diabolica, who is envious of Snow White’s youth and beauty. Tim Porter is bumbling as the Queen’s goofy woodsman, Woody. And the required dude in drag … erm, dame? Christopher Wilson is the outrageous Nurse Tickle.
The Drayton Entertainment production of Snow White: The Panto runs until December 21 at The St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Tickets are $42 ($25 for those under 20 years of age), available online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com, in person at the box office, or by calling (519) 747-7788 or toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
