By reimagining the classic folk tale of The Valiant Red Rooster for the annual holiday musical pantomime at the Arcata Playhouse, director Evan Grande offers this year’s post-earthquake, holiday spirits-boosting entertainment enjoyable for all ages.
Backed by the equivalent of a Greek chorus (the talented and funny Blue Lake Choir in chicken costumes) that witnesses the action and expresses its thoughts and feelings throughout the performance, Grande crosses over into the cast to begin the story as a grieving Old Lady. She’s facing an impending financial crisis — only to be comforted by her valiant, fearless, intrepid and ever-resourceful Red Rooster.
Using traditional pantomime plot lines of lots of singing, topical jokes and slapstick comedy — all supported by raucous audience participation, the musical follows along as the plucky Rooster finds a diamond that will save the day from economic ruin … only to have the greedy Sultan and her two Goons steal the diamond and attempt to capture and kill the Rooster. But the Rooster deploys his magical gizzard “superpower” to escape multiple life-threatening attempts by the not-so-competent Goons and outwits the Sultan’s intense selfish desire for wealth by regaining the diamond. And then, as pantomime requires, all’s well that ends well in the end.
With original music by Tim Randles, performed by him and fellow local musicians Marla Joy, Jeff Kelley and Charly Eitel, the show’s talented cast includes Victoria Timoteo as the Rooster, Evan Grande as the Old Lady, and Malia Mar as the Sultan with her two Goons (Benjamin Shaeffer and Benjamin Clifton). The Blue Lake choir is directed by Jackie Dandeneau. Set, costumes and props are by Alessandra Russo and Lush Newton, light design by David Ferney, and operation by Hayden Ewing.
Arcata Playhouse’s The Valiant Red Rooster continues Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. Visit playhousearts.org.
Mark Larson (he/him) is a retired Cal Poly Humboldt journalism professor and active freelance photographer who likes to walk.
NOW PLAYING
Ferndale Repertory Theatre continues its fairytale run of Cinderella through Dec. 22, with Friday shows at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Visit ferndalerep.org.
This article appears in Sculpting Community.