When a Prince stumbles across a castle in Queens Park that nobody else can see, an old man tells him the story of how an evil fairy put a curse on a princess 116 years ago.
Sleeping Beauty, a classic fairytale, comes to life as a brand new family friendly pantomime at the Bernie Legge Theatre Nov. 23 to Dec. 17.
The production, by Vagabond Players, features Langley actor Mike Parker as Rumpelstiltskin, and is the fist pantomime put on by the theatre company since 1987.
Parker has been involved with community theatre in the Fraser Valley since he was 19, and has done every job possible.
He first fell in love with live theatre at the age of eight when he was taken to see a Christmas pantomime of Jack in the Beanstalk. He got so involved in the story that he jumped up and punched the Giant for being mean to Jack. Luckily, both Parker and the Giant survived to perform for yet another day.
Parker most recently trod the boards at Vagabond in 2016 when he played Ernie, the Pizza Man in the world premiere of Body and Soul. He also acted in the society’s production of Murder by the Book and directed Goodnight, Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), which was Vagabond’s Festival entry in 2014.
Sleeping Beauty’s cast includes Theresa Cowley as the Sleeping Princess and Faith Hurd as the Prince who comes to break the spell and awaken her. Maegan Eastwood as Mother Fairy and Denise Brookson as Magnificent represent the forces of good and evil, and the King and Queen are played by Jean-Francois Thivierge and Roger Monk.
The cast is rounded out by Jennifer Misera as the Old Man, Elizabeth Irving as Concord, and a troupe of highly original fairies played by Delaney Gilmour, Anisha Thivierge, Frederique Roussel, Vivian Davidson and Janessa Thivierge.
Directed by Bev Pride and Elizabeth Drummond, Sleeping Beauty features sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes, a little bit of magic and loads of audience participation.
Sleeping Beauty runs Thursday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. at the Bernie Legge Theatre, Queen’s Park, New Westminster.
Tickets are $17 for adults or $15 for seniors and youth. Previews on Nov. 23 and 24 are $12.
Purchase tickets online at www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets or call 604-521-0412.