BYE BYE BAD GUY
As Ross Petty’s final run on the stage draws near, we look at why it’s good to be bad,
It’s typical for kids to side with the good guys in fairy tales and action stories. But thanks to Ross Petty, there might be a few more kids in Toronto who aspire to be villains when they grow up. And if you ask Petty, that’s not at all a bad thing.
“It is a true joy to be booed,” he says, and he knows what he’s talking about. The eponymous producer of the annual Ross Petty Productions pantomime — a holiday sendup of fairy tales, pop music, and topical jokes — has been booed at every entrance of every performance since 1996.
Now in his 20th production of the pantomime, Petty is relishing every boo, laugh and cheer he gets as Captain Hook in Peter Pan in Wonderland, now on at the Elgin Theatre. As his farewell role before he moves into an entirely behind-the-scenes job next year, Petty will have to hang up his gowns, wigs and greasepaint for the next generation of evil wizards, pirates, stepmothers and queens to charm packed houses of children, many of whom get their first brush with live theatre from the pantos.
Here are five of Petty’s most memorable villains over the past 20 years.
The Sheriff of Nottingham
Robin Hood (1996) Nemesis: The do-gooding outlaw Robin Hood, played by actor Dan Chameroy, and his troupe of Merry Men. Chameroy eventually shed the leading-man panto persona to become the cross-dressing crowd favourite Plumbum, who has appeared in the past six Ross Petty productions. Evil Plot: In the early years, the pantomimes stuck close to the original story. The Sheriff was after Robin Hood, who kept stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Downfall: The famous archery competition.
Abanazeer Aladdin (2004) Nemesis: The street rat Aladdin, played by musical theatre star Adam Brazier, and the ever-helpful genie, played by WWE wrestler Bret (The Hitman) Hart. Evil Plot: To seize the magic lamp, be all-powerful and rule the world. Downfall: An impromptu wrestling match, complete with ring, allowed The Hitman to vanquish the evil Wizard Abanazeer for good. Captain Hook Peter Pan (2007) Nemesis: Peter Pan, played by figure skater Kurt Browning, known for being light on his feet. Evil Plot: Captain Hook, jealous of Johnny Depp’s popularity from The Pirates of the Caribbean, wants to steal Peter Pan’s ability to fly, travel to Hollywood, show the world the realities of being a pirate, and take over the world. (In the 2015 production, Captain Hook travels to Wonderland to destroy the Magic Tickle Trunk of Wonder, which contains all of the world’s imagination, joy and goodness.) Secret Weapon/Sidekick: Eddie Glenn played Captain Hook’s righthand man, Smee. He reprises the role this year in his 13th show with Ross Petty. Downfall: Browning’s Peter Pan donned some roller skates during his final battle with Petty, and liter- ally skated circles around Captain Hook. Then there’s that pesky crocodile, too.
Queen Farfrompoopin Snow White (2012) Nemesis: Snow White, played by Canadian Idol winner Melissa O’Neil, who teamed up with Agent 007, James Bond himself, played by Graham Abbey. Evil plot: To expand her Botox mine into the territory of an enchanted forest, vanquish Snow White, and be the most beautiful woman in the world. Secret Weapon: Her magical mirror, voiced by panto favourite Dan Chameroy. Downfall: Queen Farfrompoopin is defeated by Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and more who destroy the mine. The Queen retreats, doomed to a life of ugliness.
Revolta Bulldoza
Cinderella (2014) Nemesis: Cinderella, played by Danielle Wade of the CBC’s Over the Rainbow Evil Plot: To marry the Prince of Pop star Max Charming (Jeff Lillico), steal his wealth, destroy Cinderella’s vegetable market and build a factory to make Hypno-chips — mind-controlling potato chips. Sidekicks: Bryn McCauley and Cleopatra Williams as her evil, rapping daughters. Downfall: Cinderella’s fairy godmother, Plumbum, uses her magic wand to force Revolta Bulldoza to eat all the Hypno-chips in the world, and turns the two evil stepsisters into vegans.