‘Flip Flop Fairy Tales’ festival of fun
Burlington’s Stage Write takes the traditional fairy tale and turns it on its head
Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm beware: “Flip Flop Fairy Tales” is about to turn the likes of “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Ugly Duckling” upside down.
In its fifth virtual festival, with a desire to inspire creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic, Burlington’s Stage Write group has offered directors, actors and writers a chance to experience a creative outlet.
“‘Flip Flop Fairy Tales’ is our take on the notion of fractured fairy tales. That’s where you take a traditional fairy tale, turn it on its head and create something new and interesting. It’s really about giving life to old tales,” says Lori Zozzolotto.
One of the steering committee members for the upcoming festival, Zozzolotto became involved with Stage Write two years ago when she submitted a play to the group’s Page to Stage event.
“There is a lot of hidden talent in Ontario, and in Canada at large, that will be encouraged to write, direct and act because of groups like Stage Write. Personally, I had always toyed with the idea of creative writing, but never got around to doing anything with it,” Zozzolotto says. “And then I had a concussion and literally lost the ability to write creatively for more than a year. The Page to Stage contest inspired me to try writing again. After my first play was selected for production, I was hooked on theatre.”
This year, there will be seven plays by Burlington and area playwrights meant for enjoyment by people of all ages.
“Some of the plays have a humorous adult viewpoint, others have stayed closer to the traditional fairy tale story,” Zozzolotto says. “Some of the fairy tales being stood on their head are ‘Rapunzel,’ ‘Hansel and Gretel,’ ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’ ”
Zozzolotto, born in Toronto, is a registered nurse who works as a clinical specialist for a medical supply company.
“I was forever scribbling stories as a child. I just always wanted to write. I attended Ryerson for journalism, but I got married, had children and my career went in a different direction.”
Now Zozzolotto is heading back to satisfy one of her youthful wishes. She’s not only writing herself, she’s encouraging others to do so, too.
“Shortly after Stage Write presented its last in-person production of Page to Stage in February 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Thinking it would not last long, we thought we would just hibernate until the pandemic passed. At the last minute, I suggested we run a virtual play writing contest,” she says.
“I had read about an online festival put on by some bored theatre students in the U.S. At this point, we didn’t even have a virtual presence on the internet and some folks on our committee were skeptical. They
wondered how we would ever do this and if writers, directors and actors would be interested. I said build it and they will come.”
And they did.
“We made the decision not to shut down but to embrace the virtual world and continue to provide a creative outlet for writers, directors and actors.
With tech savvy Ulrike Kruger setting up the technical side of things, within a month Stage Write had their YouTube channel, a Facebook group page and an updated website. Soon 2,500 people had visited their site.
“It’s the arts that have helped us all keep our sanity during the pandemic,” Zozzolotto says. “We’re all watching movies, reading books and listening to music to keep our spirits up and to express ourselves,” she says.
“We are now in the midst of producing our fifth festival and throughout each one writers and actors continually thank the group because they feel they have no other outlet for their creativity. The day we finish a production, we receive texts and emails asking when the next production will be starting. Virtual theatre does not replace the thrill of being live on stage, but it’s a good second and helps to keep the creative juices flowing.”
The casts of the Stage Write plays meet virtually as they practice and tape their presentations. The work is then uploaded onto the group’s YouTube page.
This festival’s performers include Maggie and George Thomas, Nicholas Ruddick and John R. Hewson, well-known community theatre veterans in the area.
Go to the Stage Write YouTube page to access “Flip Flop Fairy Tales” from April 30 onward. All previous festival productions are available there as well. There is no charge.
Gary Smith has written about theatre and dance for The Hamilton Spectator for 40 years gsmith1@cogeco.ca