Amateur Geneva thespians serve up classic pantomime

There’s nothing little about this Red Riding Hood.

The Geneva Amateur Operatic Society (GAOS) is presenting a pantomime next month under this title with an English-language production that involves at least 100 people.

Four performances are scheduled at the 1,000-seat Théâtre du Léman with a cast that includes 11 principal players, a 24-member choir and an additional chorus of two dozen children.

The pantomime, written by Norman Robbins, is based on the well-known tale of the girl who is threatened by the big bad wolf, with a few twists to fit the conventions of the genre.

“Of course in this production she’s not little, she’s not five years old, she’s in her teens,” said Sue Lloyd, director of the production, which has been in rehearsal since the beginning of September.

Pantomimes are a staple of the Christmas season in Britain and several Commonwealth countries, offering fun and frolics for children and families alike, with heavy doses of audience participation a key to their popularity.

With roots dating to medieval times, this “hybrid theatre” has developed a standard set of rules, Lloyd said, noting that this production is no different.

“In classical English pantomime you always have a prince played by a woman,” she said.

“You also have a ‘dame,’ in this case Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, played by a man . . . it’s always a battle between good and evil.”

The “dastardly” Sir Jasper de Vyle and the prince’s faithful servant Bobby Shaftoe are among the other characters rounding out the cast of goodies and baddies.

While pantos may be a British tradition, the cast of this production is international, reflecting the fact that English is the common second language for many people in Geneva, Lloyd said.

The long-time veteran of GAOS is a native of London, England who first came to Geneva in 1966 to work for the World Health Organization following a stint in Africa.

Lloyd became involved in the theatre society after joining the choir of the Holy Trinity Church in Geneva.

Red Riding Hood is the seventh pantomime she has either directed or co-directed.

She admitted to being a bit apprehensive about performing in the Théatre du Léman, given that most of the rehearsals are being held in a smaller school hall.

“I’m a little nervous about the stage it’s a little big,” she said. It’s the second year that GAOS is using the venue.

Lloyd is being assisted by Phil Tuffs, while Wolfgang Scutt is the production’s musical director. Song sheets will be issued to the audience for sing-a-long sessions.

Tickets ranging from 28 to 38 francs can be ordered on line through the society’s website, or by phone at 022 341 51 90 starting on November 18.

Depending upon availability, tickets can also be purchased an hour before each performance. Shows are set for Friday, December 4 (8 pm); Saturday December 5 (2 pm and 6.30 pm) and Sunday, December 6 (2 pm).

Anglophones and Anglophiles in the Lake Geneva region with a longing to see English-language theatre will have another option in the same period.

Théâtre Kayonan and Théâtre Spirale are producing an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, Great Expectations, at the Grange de Dorigny in Lausanne.

Directed by Yvan Rihs, the play features two actors, who take on several roles to relate the tale.  Tickets sell for 20 francs with performances running nightly from December 3 to 6. For more information click here.