Naughty & Nice: Panto More for Adults than Kids
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
Hansel and Gretel have been pushed into the 21st century by the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. They look like they are from the 1800s, Hansel dressed in traditional German lederhosen and Gretel in a dirndl dress. But don’t let that fool you, those outfits are covered in sequins! Those are dance costumes and they live in Port Hope in 2025.
The two stars along with six other actors are in this year’s panto. And, as is the tradition at the Capitol, there are both a Naughty and Nice version of the Hansel and Gretel story.
The Naughty version is, as expected, very crude. But at the same time, it is a real crowd pleaser. Laughs from the audience on opening night were loud and long.
Prior to the naughty show, Rob Kempson, Artistic Director of the Capitol, and writer and director of this panto, announced on stage that there would be plenty of dick jokes. He was right, there was no shortage!
But along with the off-colour jokes, there are many satiric stabs at local institutions. Port Hope politics is gently skewered. Bright political put-downs are balanced by information and clarification from a very smart Gretel. Kempson, dick jokes aside, has written a clever little satire with lots of local tie-ins. And while the risqué comments garnered the loudest laughs, the satire was well appreciated, too.
In typical panto fashion, the old Hansel and Gretel is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 as part of Grimms’ Fairy Tales. Hansel and Gretel are siblings who are abandoned in a forest and fall into the hands of a witch who lives in a house made of candies. But of course, the story soon leaves its fairy tale roots and makes surprising twists and turns.
Kempson also put together a talented cast, each person well suited to the role. Hansel and Gretel are played by Amir Haider and Michelle Yu, both familiar favourites with Capitol theatre-goers. Jacob MacInnis is excellent as the Witch. This actor can be delightfully wicked, yet sing like an angel, with a perfect Celine Dion impression of “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.” Also outstanding is Arinea Hermans as the nasty Step-Mother forcing the kids into the woods and losing them, and later as the Sour Patch Woman. She has a rich singing voice and can act in the exaggerated panto style without going over the top. Similarly, Jeremy Lapalme gives us two different characters, both equally funny. He is a wimpy milquetoast Dad, afraid to stand up to his new wife when she wants to get rid of his kids. Later he’s a construction foreman building the Witch’s candy house and provides the comedy. Kory Fulton is the handsome, muscular Sour Patch Man, while Yunike Soedarmasto and Nathanael Judah are delightful back up dancers and understudies.
The music is also a big part of this show. Special shout out to choreographer Genny Sermonia, and the two-piece band in the orchestra pit sounds great, playing many favourites which the cast members sing. Among the songs are “Taking Care of Business”, “Hungry Eyes”, “Hit Me with your Best Shot”, “Livin’ on a Prayer”, and “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”.
Earlier in the day, I saw the Nice version, which is basically the same show with the crude comments removed. But herein lies the problem. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough funny stuff inserted into the story to tickle a five-year-old’s sense of humour. Kids don’t get the political satire or the local jokes. My granddaughter was enjoying the costumes and the candy house, and she liked the singing and dancing. I asked her what was the best part and she said the popcorn was really good. My apologies to whoever had to sweep up the stray popcorn under our seats.
Most pantos aimed at kids include the fun of booing the villain. In this case, it would be the nasty witch who I’m sure would have loved that. As well, pantos need lots of audience participation, where actors come down with a mic to talk to the little ones about the show, or bring kids on stage to sing along or dance, or inviting them to do an action song in the aisle. For this panto to be a really big hit with the young audience, some active fun and silly jokes need to be added.
Hansel & Gretel continues at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope until December 28, 2025. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 905-885-1071 or visiting https://capitoltheatre.com/
Photos: 1. Amir Haidar and Michelle Yu as Hansel and Gretel. 2. Jacob MacInnis as the Witch. Photos by Sam Moffatt, Maverick Media Collective.
Hansel & Gretel – the sticky & sweet panto
Written and Directed by Rob Kempson
Music Director – Scott Pietrangelo
Music Arrangements – Jeff Newberry
Choreographer – Genny Sermonia
Performed by Amir Haidar, Michelle Yu, Jacob MacInnis, Kory Fulton, Arinea Hermans, Jeremy Lapalme, Yunike Soedarmasto, and Nathanael Judah.
Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street, Port Hope
November 21 to December 28, 2025
Reviewed by Mary Alderson