In case you don\u2019t know what a \u201cpanto\u201d is, it\u2019s a British theatre tradition, which the Lythgoe Family has brought to American audiences over the past several years. They produce these fun shows in a few cities around the country, and luckily for us Southern Californians, Pasadena is one of them.<\/p>\n
![\"Olivia](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Photo-Dec-03-8-25-07-PM163.jpg\")
<\/a>Olivia Sanabia and her adorable pals.
Photo by Curtis Brown.<\/p><\/div>\n
Each presentation is based on a well-known fairy tale, but doesn\u2019t follow the scenario exactly. All pantos are interactive, and the crowd really gets into booing the villain, cheering for the heroine, and saying hello to the most comic character who acts as the emcee of the proceedings. (In this case, it\u2019s a court jester named Muddles.) There\u2019s also lots of dancing and well-known songs. Writer Kris Lythgoe not only makes his versions much more fun than the originals, but his clever and witty lines are a laugh riot, none moreso than in this new rendition of A Snow White Christmas<\/em>.<\/p>\n This script is so well-written. There\u2019s never a dull moment in the entire production! The two women behind me were going berserk over the humor for the entire two hours!!! (But I almost didn\u2019t even notice them through my own<\/em> guffawing!)<\/p>\n This is the Lythgoes\u2019 best panto yet. There was actually an earlier version of A Snow White Christmas<\/em> produced elsewhere in Pasadena, seven years ago. It was the first one in this now-annual tradition, but I did not get to see it. (As always, I was over-booked back then, too.) And I\u2019ve been feeling bad about that loss ever since I saw their Aladdin<\/em> the following year. So I\u2019m extra<\/em> thrilled that now I\u2019ve finally seen this show, and the new and improved updated version to boot! (Kris has so much topical<\/em> humor in his works that he had to change and add a lot to the script.)<\/p>\n Michael Campion and Jared Gertner. Photo by Curtis Brown<\/p><\/div>\n The cast of A Snow White Christmas<\/em> is top-notch, led by the adorable Jared Gertner, who is his usual incredibly talented self in this one. His Muddles is not only the thread that pulls the entire narrative together, but he\u2019s also basically the host who guides us through the story. Jared is hilarious, sings beautifully, and can even dance. But he\u2019s at his best when he\u2019s interviewing the dozen or so children who come up on stage near the end of the show. (Go to the website at the bottom of this review to find out how to get that extra perk for your own<\/em> charges.) In recent weeks, I\u2019ve seen a couple of other performers do kid interviews like the ones at the pantos, and they all fell well short of what Jared does. In both instances, I kept thinking, \u201cThey need Jared.\u201d I now want to have kids just so that they can chat with him!!! (And live<\/em> with him, too, after the chat; I really don\u2019t want children for any other purpose. Mr. X and his antics are enough of a handful for me!)<\/p>\n The rest of the cast is stellar, as well. It\u2019s quite the experience to hear Destiny\u2019s Child\u2019s Michelle Williams, as the Wicked Queen, sing in person, especially after her fabulous stint on this seasons\u2019s The Masked Singer<\/em>! She\u2019s an incredible performer, whose rendition of I Put a Spell On You<\/em> is worth the price of admission alone. And she\u2019s really funny, too\u2014who knew?! It\u2019s great that Michelle made time among all her other endeavors to do this panto, which she told me she\u2019s really enjoying.<\/p>\n Michelle Williams and dancers. Photo by Curtis Brown.<\/p><\/div>\n Olivia Sanabia, who plays Snow White, is gorgeous, talented, and most importantly to me\u2014sweet<\/em>! Interviewing her prior to the panto\u2019s opening was a breeze. She was raised right! (And you know that I always love my fellow long-tressed ladies.)<\/p>\n Rounding-out this perfect cast are Michael Campion, who brought a youthful charm to the mainly non-singing role of the Prince, and Garrett Clayton, as the Huntsman, whose singing really wowed me, especially on Elton John\u2019s I\u2019m Still Standing<\/em>. (He told me that he\u2019s wearing a special pair of glasses for that number, which I believe he got at one of Elton John\u2019s Oscar parties.) And let me not forget to laud Neil Patrick Harris in his recorded role as the Magic Mirror. (Kudos to the tech people who timed his video chats in perfect sync with the live actors.)<\/p>\n Garrett Clayton iand dancers. Photo by Curtis Brown.<\/p><\/div>\n But the hit of this particular panto for me were the Dwarves!!! They are absolutely adorbs!!! I especially loved the smallest one. OMG. I was having such a great time watching the earlier portions of A Snow White Christmas<\/em>\u00a0that I almost forgot the charming septet was even in this story, but I got even happier when they arrived on the scene. I actually screamed like I was seeing the Beatles!!! They are done so cleverly. And them doing YMCA<\/em> is one of the most fun moments I\u2019ve had in any<\/em> theatre anywhere<\/em>! I want to see just that part every night of my life. (Mature of me, right?)<\/p>\n While we\u2019re on the subject of the songs, there are great choices at every turn. As much as I loved all the happy upbeat<\/em> tunes, I was equally enamored with Olivia\u2019s beautiful rendition of Sara Bareilles\u2019 Gravity<\/em>, which made me tear-up a bit. (All the music is coordinated and arranged by Musical Director extraordinaire Michael Orland.)<\/p>\n The crazy busy Winter Wonderland lobby on opening night! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The program does not list a set designer nor a costume one, but props to those artists, as well. The crayon-colored sets made my mouth water, and the constant creative projections enveloped the entire auditorium, which made it all that much more spectacular.<\/p>\n As always with Lythgoe Family Pantos, A Snow White Christmas<\/em> has a very happy ending…for everyone! And there are even more surprises at the end, both inside and outside the theatre.<\/p>\n So I\u2019m advising that all of you go see this show while you have the chance. And make sure to get there early so that you have time to peruse the Winter Wonderland in the lobby.<\/p>\n A Snow White Christmas<\/em>\u00a0running through December 22, 2019<\/strong> A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS This \u201cpanto,\u201d (which I\u2019ll explain in a minute,) is the perfect holiday entertainment. Heck, it\u2019s really the perfect anytime entertainment! But you have only this Thursday through Sunday to see this magical show, so if you\u2019re anywhere near SoCal, (with or without kids,) I suggest you make it a priority. In<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Pasadena Civic Auditorium 300 East Green Street, Pasadena 626-449-7360\u00a0www.americanpanto.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"