On Thursday, December 12th, Arbor Theatre — in partnership with Mysterious Entity — makes its long-anticipated return to Showplace Performance Centre in downtown Peterborough with the original production Real Rad Red Riding Hood, written and directed by Em Glasspool.

While this is the only public performance, school performances are also available on December 9th, 10th, and 12th that members of the public can attend if they wish.

Arbor Theatre’s annual Christmas productions have been a holiday tradition for families and schools across the Kawarthas, but Real Rad Red Riding Hood is Arbor’s first show since 2017. It marks a new direction for the long-existing theatre company under the leadership of new creative director Em Glasspool of Mysterious Entity.

Bringing a mostly new and dynamic creative team to Arbor Theatre, Em has maintained the theatre company’s special recipe of combining young performers with celebrated local performers to create a lively and fun show suitable for audiences of all ages.

Although Arbor’s holiday shows have been a staple of the season, my visit to a Sunday morning rehearsal of Real Rad Red Riding Hood at Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute was my first with the theatre company.

For this production, Em and his team have amassed a huge cast of nearly 50 performers ranging from the age of four to 77, with the majority of them being under the age of 10.

Yet, despite the young age of the performers, I was impressed by the group’s focus, organization, and excitement. The kids were engaged in the rehearsal and, most of all, learning real lessons about performing on stage.

Taking the helm as Arbor’s new creative director in May of this year, this is Em’s first production at the head of Arbor — which has come with a lot of new challenges for him.

“Arbor Theatre was looking for a new creative director who had a lot of directing experience and someone who is established in the theatre realm,” Em explains. “I was one of a number of people who were contacted, and part of it was that I had the ability to write. Typically I work with adult, and very small casts. For this show, there are 50 bodies on stage and most of them are children.”

“So that’s been a big learning curve for me, but I think it’s a great fit. I enjoy working with the team and the kids are amazing.”

Working alongside Em to create the new face of Arbor Theatre is long-time general manager and producer Beverly Breeden, stage manager Cheri Patrick, costume designer Melanie McCall, and choreographer Dreda Blow. They are joined by long-time set designer John Fewings and Em’s song-writing partner Curtis Driedger. With the exception of Beverly and John, this marks a brand new team of people taking Arbor into new territory.

“It’s been a great revitalization,” Em says. “Sometimes new ideas and new people are what a company needs. I’m honoured and excited to be brought in, and I think there is a real desire and thirst for young people in the arts. More can be done to teach and train and engage with the kids, and not just put them on stage.”

With over 20 years of holiday shows under the company’s belt, Arbor has covered most of the classic stories and fairy tales through the years. So when it was suggested that this year’s show be an adaption of Little Red Riding Hood, Em had his work cut out for him in creating something relevant for his first show.

“The company said they wanted to do Red Riding Hood and I thought ‘Oh dear, I don’t know about that story,'” Em recalls. “There are some problematic things with that story in today’s world. My goal was to modernize it. It’s contemporary, and there are very strong female characters in it. The mother, the grandmother, and Red are all very strong and prominent.”

“I used the story to talk about preserving nature, and our role as humans in doing that. It’s about interacting with animals in the woods, so our characters are trees and flowers and wolf cubs and other animals. It’s also about relationships. The trees are played by teenagers who are Red’s counterparts, and we talk about bullying.”

“I think people will be surprised with the show I’ve created. There are many elements to it, including music, and it’ll be a tiny bit more political — if we can do that in children’s theatre. My social justice side has leaked into the work.”

Sitting in on the second act during the rehearsal, I noticed the themes and lessons learned are plenty and span a great range. The show looks at respecting the environment and wildlife, bullying, toxic masculinity, non-violence, and even a thinly veiled line about consent. Furthermore, the show has both indigenous and LGBTQ+ representation.

However, while all of these themes are within the show, they are not presented in a preachy way that bogs down the show, nor do they take away from the fast and fun script.

“I’d say that it has a lot of deep messages,” says 13-year-old Max Hoen, who co-stars as the show’s narrator and Red’s friend Tree. “There are layers to it. Most of the time it’s a comedy, but sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s sad.”

Real Rad Red Riding Hood stars 12-year-old Eloise Harvey as Red, a strong-willed and rebellious teenager who, despite her mother’s orders, goes into the woods to visit her grandmother. There she meets a lonely wisecracking tree (Max Hoen), who becomes her companion through the forest.

Along the way Red also encounters the Big Bad Wolf (Aedan Shaughnessy), who’s trying to raise his pack of cubs to be big and tough like him, although his oldest son Basher (Nathan Bertucci) just wants to be friendly.

One of the most important things that Em wanted to do when developing the characters was to make Red stronger and more independent — not the traditional lost little girl in the woods being victimized by the big bad wolf.

“In this show Red is a teenager and rebellious,” Eloise explains. “Her mother tells her not to go through the woods, and then she meets a forester who gives her all kinds of rules. But my character does what she wants to anyway, and she gets in all sorts of adventures.”

As is tradition with the Arbor holiday show, adult performers from the community take part in the show and, once again, the majority of the adult performers are new to Arbor this year. Bringing their knowledge as mentors to the young performers, and adding their own colourful personalities to the roles they play, are Naomi DuVall as an uptight forest ranger, Bruce Levia and Bob Forsey as the sun and the moon, David Batemann as Pansy of the forest, Rebecca Desjardins as Red’s mom, Aeden Shaughanessy as the (not so) Big Bad Wolf, and Caitlin O’Connor as Red’s grandmother.

I was delighted but curious to see award-winning performer and playwright David Bateman among the adult performers listed for the show.

“People who know me know I work with David, and his shows aren’t the kind you bring children to,” Em admits. “But it’s wonderful to cross over and have David work with kids. David is one of the most fun characters. He’s so funny and a wonderful.”

Em also brings award-winning indigenous artist Nimkii Osawamick to the show in the role of Grandfather Wolf.

“Nimkii is a champion pow wow dancer, and he wins tons of awards for his work,” Em says. “As Grandfather Wolf, he will be dancing as well. He has his own company called DNA Stage and their mandate is to go to schools and teach kids drumming, language, storytelling, singing, and traditional indigenous arts. He has a really interesting take in working with kids and it’s great having him on board.”

What impressed me the most about the time I spent with the people at Arbor Theatre was how they weren’t just running their performers through the rehearsal. They were taking the time to teach theatre techniques and performance. They talked to the group about preparation and motivation, and were instilling actual lessons in them instead of just leading them on the stage to be adorable living props.

“A huge goal of mine is that rehearsals are a learning opportunity,” Em says. “We do a ton more than just tell the kids ‘Go here, say this line, and put this hat on.’ We’re really looking on the basics of acting, techniques ,and things the kids can take away with them so they can continue to work on as they continue in theatre.”

The lessons are obviously working. When talking to Ella Swit, a passionate young lady who plays a wolf cub in the show, she eloquently expressed to me her love for the theatre and for being on the stage.

“I just get to go into my own little world.,” Ella says. “In each play, you get put on costumes and make up and become someone you’re not — and that’s awesome.”

With a new creative team and a new direction in storytelling, Real Rad Red Riding Hood is an exhilarating rebirth for Arbor Theatre, and a welcome return to this favourite holiday tradition.

Real Rad Red Riding Hood will be performed for the public at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 12th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough). Tickets are $18 adults ($15 students/seniors) plus fees, available in person at the Showplace box office, by phone at 705-742-7469, and online.

School Performances of Real Rad Red Riding Hood

There are also school performances of Real Rad Red Riding Hood taking place at Showplace Performance Centre at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, December 9th, Tuesday, December 10th, and Thursday, December 12th.

The cost is $12 per student, with free admission for teachers and supervisors with every eight students booked. Discussion periods will take place at the end of each school performance to give students a chance to ask questions of the cast and crew, and to encourage their interest in theatre.

To book your class or school into one of the performances — or if you are a member of the public who wishes to attend a school performance — call 705-295-4248 or email thearbortheatre@gmail.com.

Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, December 5 to Wednesday, December 11.

If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.

There are only a handful of tickets left if you want to see 4th Line Theatre’s new Christmas show The Fool of Cavan: A Christmas Caper.

Written by Lindy Finlan and directed by 4th Line’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell, The Fool of Cavan is 4th Line’s newest outdoor holiday show, which starts at St. Thomas Anglican Church and brings the story out into the streets of Millbrook using the village as the story’s backdrop.

Filled with mystery, music, fun, and just a bit of old world magic, The Fool of Cavan is a perfect holiday outing for the entire family.

Set in 1964, The Fool of Cavan opens with progressive Reverend Peter Green (Mark Hiscox) and his uptight sister Euna Wyndham (Megan Murphy) finding themselves at odds over a local rock band, The Needlers, performing at the church’s Christmas pageant. However, bigger issues than if Millbrook is ready for rock n’ roll arise when strange happenings begin at the church.

Strange ghostly sounds have been heard, and the costumes for the children’s Christmas play suddenly go missing. When Euna blames the rock group — made up of teen detective Joanie Sweetnam (Erin Humphry) and her friends Evie (Sarah Flanigan), Billy (Tristan Peirce), and Eddie (Ryan Tobin) — the kids reveal that their instruments have gone missing too.

When accusations and insinuations fly, the members of the church are visited by a mysterious figure dressed up as a fox, leading the characters outside where they witness a group of mysterious costumed revellers dancing through the streets. Out to clear their names and find their instruments before the Christmas concert, Joanie and her gang take on the case and follow the clues to discover the identity of The Fool of Cavan.

The second holiday show for 4th Line Theatre, The Fool of Cavan is a welcome follow up to last year’s successful show The Other. However, while The Other was filled with heavy dramatic overtones, The Fool of Cavan goes in an entirely different direction. The show is pure nostalgic enjoyment, unapologetically inspired by Nancy Drew mixed with Scooby Doo.

When watching The Fool of Cavan, I often felt like I was watching an animated holiday special from days of Christmas past, but acted out live in front of me. The show has a strange rhythm to it, where the actors are larger than life and slightly over the top, which creates the illusion of cartoon fun.

The character of girl detective Joanie Sweetnam, played by Erin Humphry, is a fun and inspired concept that really appeals to me. Growing up, I was a huge fan of girl detective fiction and still have my Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Dana Girl Mystery books in my bookcases. So 4th Line Theatre resurrecting the genre in a live-action holiday play was a true treat for me, and will appeal to adults who grew up on this brand of storytelling, as well as the new generation of kids who will fall head first into the mystery as it unfolds.

The characters in the show are fairly one dimensional, but this allows the audience to get to know the players quickly without being bogged down in character and back story so that the journey through Millbrook can take centre stage. All characters in the show have their own distinct character traits. Joanie is spunky and clever, Reverend Greene is sensible, Eunice is a busy body, Eddie is a fraidy cat, Evie is a rebel, and Billy is a goofball.

There’s also a romantic subplot involving Joanie’s mother Dolly (Laurel Paluck) and church elder Dunnie (JD Nicholsen), as well as fun character parts by Matt Gilbert as Eunice’s alcoholic husband Willy and Katrina McGahon as Eddie’s cooler sister Speedy.

The force that drives the audience through the streets are the mysterious figures dancing through Millbrook. Garbed in costumes by Madison Costello and masks designed by Brad Brackenridge, the figures have a magical old-world quality to them, harkening back to pagan rituals and old European traditions.

Ravens, foxes, stags and a plague doctor mingle with other mystical beasts, led by the so-called “Fool of Cavan” who bears resemblance to a yeti or a wendigo. Eerie and strange, with a sense of wonder and whimsy, these figures add atmosphere and magic to the show.

But, once again, the true star of the show is the village of Millbrook itself. Staging the play in scenic neighbourhoods, local landmarks and well-scouted locations, the walking tour through the village is beautiful, and instills a festive feeling in the crowd. Furthermore, the use of St. Thomas’ Anglican Church as the home base for the show — which ends in an old-fashioned Christmas concert all its own — is a brilliant touch that brings up even more nostalgic memories of Christmas pageants gone by.

There is a beautiful Canadian country feel to the entire experience, which reminds the audience that the holiday season isn’t about office parties, busy malls, and credit card debt. It’s about community, friends, music, and a little bit of holiday magic.

4th Line Theatre’s holiday productions are a wondrous and welcomed addition to the company’s yearly programming. The walk through Millbrook is truly magical, and the festive spirit runs high. The Fool of Cavan is a wonderful addition into what hopefully will be a continuing holiday tradition for local audiences.

Note that the outside portion of the performance runs for 40 minutes, and audiences will travel snow covered streets and paths, so dress for the elements and be prepared for the physical nature of the show.

The Fool of Cavan: A Christmas Caper runs for seven more performances (December 6th, 7th, and 10th to 14th), but all performances are now sold out except for the Wednesday, December 11th one. The show begins at St. Thomas Anglican Church (16 Centre St., Millbrook) at 7 p.m., but audience members are asked to be gathered by 6:30 p.m..

Advance tickets can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445, online at www.4thlinetheatre.ca, at 4th Line Theatre’s box office in Millbrook at 4 Tupper Street and in Peterborough at the Peterborough Museum and Archives at 300 Hunter Street East (atop Armor Hill).