Snow White

Ross Petty as the Evil Queen with other cast members in Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical.

What do an Evil Queen in drag, a collection of Rob Ford jokes, and a perfectly choreographed performance of “Gangnam Style” have in common? Nothing, except they’re all part of Ross Petty’s latest “fractured fairy tale,” Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical, now playing at the Elgin Theatre. In traditional English pantomime style, Petty’s current offering incorporates a wealth of Canadian cultural references and modern music into a beloved fairy tale, rounded out by a phenomenally talented cast.

Since 1996, Ross Petty Productions has been staging wacky fairy tales during the holiday season, and Snow White is no doubt one of the Canadian theatre producer’s wackiest. Appearing on stage in a glittery pink ballgown, Petty plays the Evil Queen to perfection, encouraging “boos” (booze) from the audience at every turn. His entourage of guards help him sing his very own theme song, LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” as he consults his mirror to see if, in fact, he is the fairest of them all.

When the audience meets Snow White (played by Melissa O’Neil), she is spending time with her woodland friends—a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pigeon—who have inspired her to want to become a veterinarian. However, the Queen has other plans, and sends her servant Infestus the Fool (played brilliantly by Eddie Glen) to fetch the young Snow White and make her pose for a photo which the queen can later use as her online dating profile picture (not quite Disney’s version of the fairy tale). Snow White refuses to be part of the Queen’s deception and flees the kingdom, venturing into a deep dark forest full of familiar fairy tale characters.

This version of Snow White is a colourful cornucopia of cultural references—jokes about the TTC, Rob Ford, and Don Cherry are strewn throughout the production. The songs are also all current hits: O’Neil’s Snow White performs Katy Perry’s “Firework” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” as part of the show. Red Riding Hood (Bryn McAuley) is a fast-talking, and texting, Valley Girl who tweets that she knows a princess when Snow White reveals who she really is. Jack (David Cotton), of Jack and the Beanstalk fame, plays the charming love interest, while Ham (Reid Janisse) is one of the “Three Little Pigs” that everyone in the audience will recognize. Graham Abbey steals the show as Bond, a character who does not fit in upon first introduction, but without whom the production would not be the same.

Ross Petty’s Snow White is a culturally relevant, extremely entertaining holiday treat that will leave the audience laughing and singing. Appropriate for all ages and tastes, it is a rare interactive theatre experience.

Snow White: The Deliciously Dopey Family Musical plays until January 5 at the ElginTheatre. Visit rosspetty.com for more information and to buy tickets.