Photo: Alberta Opera Musical Theatre for Young People will entertain students and parents alike with “Hansel and Gretel.” - Photo Submitted
By Katie Ryan
The sweeter things in life can be deceiving.
The Alberta Opera Musical Theatre for Young People troupe will bring that lesson to life in the popular folk tale – “Hansel and Gretel” – telling the story of the two siblings, who in this rendition of the Germanic fable runaway from home to discover a witch’s sugary cottage, complete with cake and candy.
With so many versions of 14th Century story circulating, from German Opera to Grimm’s Fairy tales, Alberta Opera’s artistic director, Farren Timoteo successfully took on the challenge of adapting the story for the stage.
“Alberta Opera has a long history of taking fairy tales and adapting them,” said Timoteo. Brainstorming together, Timoteo and composer Jeff Unger created a musical theatre version of “Hansel and Gretel” geared towards elementary students.
“The challenge is on one hand to put your own stamp on it and create something that is unique and original from other adaptations,” he said. “And also to stay close with the climate of contemporary students and not without ‘contemporizing’ it, give it a flavour that they can relate to.”
“Hansel and Gretel” has been touring the province since January 2010 and will be debuting in the Border City on May 27. Timoteo hopes the stage production and original musical score will captivate students of all ages.
“I think there are a lot of themes, especially relating to home and family and the appreciation of what you have versus what you want or need,” said Timoteo. Traditionally as with other Alberta Opera youth productions, “Hansel and Gretel” will showcase the talent of local youth both in front and behind the curtain.
“Eight will have a small role within the show and they will dance and perform with the actors and the other eight perform various stage crew duties that keep them involved in technical side of theatre,” said Timoteo of the roles lucky local students will take in the upcoming Lloydminster production.
“(It) creates an interactive experience outside of being in the audience. It’s really fun for us especially when we perform so many shows, to involve 16 students, it keeps the energy very fresh and alive for each performance.”
For many students, attending an Alberta Opera production is their first brush with professional musical theatre. By taking musical theatre productions on the road, Timoteo said he hopes students will consider the arts as a future career choice.
“On one end we hope at the very least they enjoyed the show and it’s a source of entertainment because they leave happy and satisfied with their cultural experience and in some cases their very first cultural experience,” he said.
“On the other hand, it’s really nice to provide an example of professionals creating theatre and giving them a cultural experience. Some students will really relate to that if they have a desire to perform or create or dance or sing. This provides them with an example that they can do that.”
Like other Alberta Opera performances, adults are not to feel left out. Timoteo said the responses from past performances have proven that there is indeed something for everyone.
“Students and adults alike have been really wonderful and positive in their feedback and we had a really great time adapting it. We try very, very hard when adapting for students or for children, not to leave out the adults who will always be watching it as well,” he said. Take your youngsters to the Vic Juba Theatre on May 27 for “Hansel and Gretel.”