One of the great joys of Christmas panto season, on the Peninsula and beyond, is just how family-friendly an activity it is.
That applies not only to audiences of the ever-popular fairy tale-based song, dance and groaner-pun extravaganzas, but participants too.
Panto casts may end up feeling like extended family during the run – but, frequently, actual family members sign up together for the whirlwind ride of bringing a production to a local stage.
A case in point is the mother and daughter team of Heather and Leah Leavoy, both of whom have featured roles in Fraser Valley Musical Theatre's upcoming Rapunzel (Surrey Arts Centre, Nov. 20 to Dec. 1), latest in a proud 40-year history of pantomimes.
It's the second FVMT pantomime in as many years for Heather, a business coach, stage, film and TV actor, voice-over talent and single mom to Leah – who, while only 11, is already exhibiting all of the instincts of a show-business trouper.
Both were in FVMT's Puss In Boots, which earned the company a Cleo Award for Best Pantomime for the 2023-24 season – and for Leah, a 'Made You Look' award at the Cleos for her inventive multiple-character chorus work.
During a recent interviews at Peace Arch News' offices, it's not hard to see why she drew attention – in addition to inheriting her mom's cheerful charisma (and dazzling blue eyes) the diminutive, articulate redhead has her own irrepressibly impish sense of humour, and an infectious giggle.
She's putting those traits to good use in her latest role, the newly graduated Fairy Flora, who remains endearingly optimistic despite her somewhat inconsistent efforts mastering magic spells.
"She's a very new fairy," she said.
"This is her first project and she's still trying to figure out how things are done. When something goes wrong she always says something like 'whoopsie-daisy – I didn't mean for that to happen!"
"But she's very happy – she always wants to solve things."
Meanwhile, Heather's sense of characterization and dialogue delivery is well-employed in her role as the Queen, determined to foster some sense of ambition in her son Prince Frederick (Adrian Shaffer) whose partying proclivities have not been curbed by straight-laced parental approach of the King (Derek Barnett).
"Queen Gertrude is more of a toxic mother – she's obsessed with her son," Heather said.
Directed by highly experienced FVMT regular Samantha Robbins, with choreography by Tamara Jaune, music direction by Ashley Trimble – all overseen by producer Jerret Schwartz – the show offers a plethora of other comedic characters and situations.
In addition to Shaffer, one of the region's most versatile theatre talents – also skilled in 'principal boy' roles – the show also boasts the sure comedy touch of FVMT veteran Mike Balser as the Dame, hairdresser Trixie Bouffant.
Of course there is also the beauteous Rapunzel (Tallya Lalonde), she of the long, luxurious hair – locked up in a tower, ostensibly by her grandmother. In reality, she's been imprisoned there by the evil villainess Gothel (Parastoo Pasha) who is actually using the hapless girl's tears as an anti-aging formula.
Prince Frederick, sent out in the world to prove himself, rescues Rapunzel from the tower by the approved method – but that's only the beginning of their troubles. He and Rapunzel must battle the vengeful wrath of Gothel in a show full of the typical panto twists and turns and ups and downs.
They don't have a monopoly on woe. Back in the town, Trixie, while flirting with the Captain of the Guard (Bernardo Arana), is still haunted by the disappearance of her baby daughter 16 years earlier. Meanwhile, her son Frankie (Melanie Mercer) has his hands full in his job as valet to Prince Frederick.
Also providing their own complications to the humorously chaotic plot are bumbling henchmen Curly and Bob (Lynn Fingarson and Jordyn Turetski) and the prince's social secretaries, Gracie, Lacie and Macie (Vanessa Quarinto, Kyleigh Chaulk and Macie Dahl).
For Heather, also dance captain of the current show (she has a long and varied experience in competitive dance, as well as lengthy experience with the Surrey Children's Choir) appearing in Rapunzel is very much a coming full-circle moment.
"Back in the day, I was doing FVMT pantos as a kid," she said. "I think the first was Little Red Riding Hood, when I was nine, and when I was 11, I was in Alice In Wonderland.
"People I'm playing across from now, were young ones in the chorus with me – like our director, Samantha, who's been a friend ever since.
"The last one I did, 12 years ago, was just before Leah was born. We joke now that doing shows was imprinted on her in the womb!
"I also found a journal in which I wrote, maybe I'll be able to work on a show with my daughter some day – so that's really come true."
Heather notes that Leah, whom she is home-schooling, has just signed on with Play Talent Management.
"It's exciting to see her stepping into the world of voice-over and film and TV," she says.
At the same time, she is taking care to give Leah a balance of activities and non-traditional learning experiences. Part of each week she attends the Wilderness Performing Arts program with the Vancouver Outdoor School at Crescent Beach, while also studying choral singing with the Traditional Learning Academy in Cloverdale.
She's also an avid soccer player, Heather said, attending one practice and one game each week as part of the Coastal Football Club's recreational program.
But there's no doubt that theatre is in her blood – Leah's father is also an actor, Heather noted.
And Leah is loving every minute of being in Rapunzel, she said, even though she only gets to appear in one musical number this time around.
"But I sing backstage for all the numbers," Leah added, confessing that she likes to be in the spotlight, and hearing the applause.
"I really do – I like the attention," she admitted. "Being noticed – I feel like I belong, and I've been some places where I didn't feel like I belonged."
She also enjoys the challenge of creating different characters, she said.
"Last year, in Puss In Boots, I was a slave, a bunny rabbit, a fairy and a chorus member. I wasn't the only one had a multiple roles – but I was the only one who had four different costumes!
"Singing and acting is really fun, but I'm also learning a lot. There are a lot of people in the cast with a lot of different experience – some have been doing it 20 years or more and for some it's their first or second year.
"I find it really interesting to see other people's method of expression."
Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and matinees are at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets for Rapunzel are $23.50 for all ages on Nov. 20 and 21; after that youth and student tickets are $23.50, while adults pay $33.25 and seniors pay $28.25. Families (or groups of four) are $94 on Nov. 20 and 21 and $100 after that.
Tickets are available at tickets.surrey.ca, or through the FVMT website, fvmt.org
