A fairy tale bully must face his victims and the public is invited to watch.
Dewdney Players Group Theatre is performing The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf. The play will see the fictional bad guy go on trial for his various offenses committed in fairytale land in a musical comedy at the Olde Towne Plaza the next two weekends. Admission is by donation.
Playing the cocky bad guy is Dewdney novice Gabriel Baier.
“He is so confident you almost wish you could kick him in the teeth to get rid of that confidence,” Baier said of his character. “He’s impossibly smug and he knows he can get away with anything. It becomes apparent very quickly that he’s got the entire place on his side, either by circumstance or because everyone is just that gullible.”
Baier has reveled in taking on the persona of the over-confident, smug wolf who has the support of his mafia-like wolf pack as testimonials are heard from Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, the Boy Who Cried Wolf and various other characters.
“He doesn’t hesitate to speak up,” said Baier. “When the wolf pack gets rowdy and the bailiff tries to get them quiet, the wolf just has to raise his hand and they immediately shut up.”
While Baier considers himself a recluse, he had no problem taking on the Big Bad Wolf’s less than appealing qualities.
He was told by director Ed Sands that he got the part because he was “dripping with attitude” during the audition.
Baier was quite surprised, considering he decided to audition for the play on a whim.
Baier was involved in the junior high school drama program at St. John Paul II Collegiate, but he never stuck with it.
“Even though everyone told me I was a very dramatic person and I probably should have (stuck with it), there were more things I was interested in,” he said.
Baier expects the seemingly children’s performance will appeal to people of all ages.
“It’s short, it’s fun and it’s constantly throwing jokes at you,” he said. “It’s throwing some pretty clever humour back and forth.”
The Dewdney Players typically tackle one musical once every two years, said Sands.
Their last musical was Robin Hood in 2014.
This year, the 28 actors and actresses in The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf, many of whom are children, are going all out, said director Ed Sands.
“The thing that I’m demanding of them is that they are taking part in the production for the full time of the play,” he said. “I want reactions, I want to see emotions and ownership of the roles. They’ve really stepped up to that.”
The 40-minute-long play consists of nine songs complete with choreography in a ’50s rock and roll style with plenty of action on the stage, said Sands.
“It’s a play with kids for kids,” he said. “The kids are just having so much fun.”
Sands added that he made sure every performer had the opportunity to showcase his or her talent.
“We literally use everyone in the whole play,” she said. “Right now we’re working on finalizing the dialogue and character development.
One of the more experienced actors, Daniel Rose, is playing Hodney Dangerfield, the defense lawyer.
“Mostly he just spends his time making terrible jokes and adjusting his tie,” said Rose. “He starts out confident, but as things go on and the trial gets further and further out of control he finally just gives up and lets things go as they will.”
Rose said he’s used to playing more serious characters who are ridiculous in context.
Dangerfield fits that role quite well, he said.
With so many elements to the performance, Rose said it’s a play people of various ages will enjoy.
“It’s definitely aimed at a younger audience, although most of the jokes and references are from the ’50s and ’60s,” he said. “It’s definitely a fun show. I really enjoy the writing and the songs are a lot of fun.”
Rose said the choreography took some getting used to.
“It’s trying to remember the words to the song and the movement and have this in time with everyone else,” he said. “It took some practice, but I’ve got everything down.”
Performances of The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf take place July 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinees are at 2 p.m. on July 23, 24, 30 and 31.
Those planning to attend are invited to bring a lawn chair.
