This being the sixth time for the East Van Panto, it was predictably an astounding success! The production brought audiences from all walks and stages of their lives- children. entire families enjoying this as a holiday affair, the elderly, and everyone in between. The East Van Panto: The Wizard of Oz, intricately wove together all the essential elements of a pantomime: there was slapstick humour, topical issues – especially with the political landscape around pipelines in BC – cross-dressing, audience participation, including one incident that involved the person sitting right next to me to go up on stage (truly beyond her consent)!
The show’s music and lyrics were under the direction of the famous Veda Hille, a Vancouver born and based musical star. Listening to her voice, and that of Christine Quintana’s, who carried the show beautifully as Dorothy, had me fangirling a little.
“The East Van Panto” takes the general plot of “The Wizard of Oz” and converts it into what it would be like in Vancouver, in the context of a pipeline burst, with jokes that only Vancouverites would understand. There is truly nothing negative that I could say about this show. It is light-humoured and a good-old wholesome yet cheeky time that can be shared with family and friends. And although its tone is not serious, the content, through comedy and exaggerated caricatures, embodies issues we ought to reflect on as a community. Issues like the main political players that affect the city and province and issues such as housing, rent-increases, and the oh-so-beloved rainy weather. All in all, The East Van Panto is a laid-back show with hilarity that had everyone in fits of laughter.
Get your tickets here!
– Maira Hassan