It was an absolute delight from top to bottom, and sure to thrill families from young to old.
This holiday season, experience the magic of a hilarious holiday fairytale Panto from Lythgoe Family Productions with the world premiere of RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH, now playing at Laguna Playhouse!
Prepare for a spellbinding journey filled with laughter, pop music and, of course, magic, as Rapunzel tries to escape from her tower and the wicked Madame Gothel with the help of her friends, Prince Sebastian of Newport and Simple Simon, all while learning her true identity and making her way to the Kingdom of Laguna for the annual Festival of Lights.
Let me give you a quick flashback to refresh your memory: Eighteen years ago, King Frederic and Queen Arianna (Rapunzel’s parents) were anticipating their firstborn. The Queen soon gives birth to a healthy baby girl, named Rapunzel, who, unlike her brunette parents, has beautiful, golden hair. To celebrate her birth, floating lanterns were released into the sky throughout the kingdom.
Discovering that Rapunzel's hair retained magical powers of youth, Madame Gothel stole away into her nursery and attempted to cut a piece off for herself, only to find that the lock lost its magic. Frustrated and desperate, Gothel kidnaps the princess and locks her away in a hidden tower within an alcove deep in the forest. She wanted her far away from civilization and any contact with people so her magical supply would never run out.
To protect Rapunzel's hair, Gothel raised Rapunzel as her own daughter and taught her to sing the flower's song. Meanwhile, the kingdom searched far and wide for their missing princess, but to no avail. As a result, each year on Rapunzel's birthday, the King, Queen, and the entire kingdom releases thousands of lanterns into the night sky in hopes that one day, their lost princess will return.
To further ensure her magic supply was plentiful, Gothel continuously brushed the hair to nurture its growth. Although Rapunzel wished to leave the tower, Gothel warned her of a dangerous world beyond the tower walls, full of horrible and selfish people that desired to steal her hair and abuse her power.
Rapunzel may have lived her entire life locked inside that tall hidden tower, but she is no damsel in distress. The girl with the long, long weaves of golden-fleeced hair (some have said as much as 70 feet in length) is an energetic, inquisitive teenager who fills her days with art, books, and imagination. Now eighteen, she’s very curious about the outside world, and she can't help but feel that her true destiny lies outside the lonely tower walls.
Rapunzel, however, has always obeyed Mother Gothel by staying hidden away and keeping her magical hair a secret, but after a few revelations from a visiting Prince Sebastian (who tricked her and climbed her hair to the tower window after watching Gothel), she’s fed up with her sheltered life and ready for an adventure.
More specifically, she has become fascinated by an annual event that seems to happen only on her birthday. That night, every year, she witnesses thousands of beautiful floating lights in the sky, brighter than the stars, rise over the tops of the alcove and into view of the tower's largest window. Wanting to know the meaning behind this phenomenon, Rapunzel decides with Sebastian that she will finally ask Madame Gothel to see the Festival of Lights. And with the Prince of Newport’s help, Rapunzel seizes the opportunity to leave the tower for the first time in her life, and begins a hilarious, hair-raising journey that will get the knots out of many secrets along the way.
RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH marks Lythgoe Family Panto’s ninth Panto production at the historic Laguna Playhouse. Written by Kris Lythgoe and Directed by Becky Lythgoe, the Supervising Director is Bonnie Lythgoe, with Choreography by Becca Sweitzer and Musical Direction by Andy Street; Costume, Hair & Makeup Design/Set Dresser by Haven Hanson.
Starring the legendary Sally Struthers as Madame Gothel, and featuring Darcy Rose Byrnes (“Reefer Madness,” “Sofia The First”) as Rapunzel; L.J. Benet (“Ring of Fire” at Ensemble Theatre Company, National Tour of “Million Dollar Quartet”) as Prince Sebastian; Larry Saperstein (“High School Musical: The Musical”) as Simple Simon; Douglas Ladnier (“Jekyll & Hyde”) as Sniville; and Ralph Cole, Jr. (“NCIS,” “Scrubs”) as B. Bouffant. The Ensemble will feature Isabella Childers, Sydney Kinney, Elisha Nealy, and Andrii Strelkivskyi. Junior Dancers are Addison Chang, Julian Gwin, Colin Kerrane, Rae Martinez. Youth Dancers include Isabel Jones, Coco Renee Ortega, Chacha Shen, Gisella Zembruski. Understudying Madame Gothel is Beth Lipari.
Sally Struthers is a two-time Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner for her performance in the groundbreaking TV series “All in The Family.” She starred in CBS’ spinoff “Gloria” and “9 to 5” (FOX), and played recurring roles on “Still Standing” (CBS), as well as “The Gilmore Girls” (CW) and Netflix’s four movie revival, and guest starred in “Maron” (IFC). Sally’s television movies include: “A Gun In The House,” “And Your Name Is Jonah,” “The Great Houdinis,” “Hey… I’m Alive,” “In The Best Interest Of The Children,” “Deadly Silence,” “My Husband Is Missing,” and “Intimate Strangers.”
Struthers co-starred in two legendary motion pictures: “Five Easy Pieces” with Jack Nicholson, and “The Getaway” with Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw. Sally’s first two Broadway shows were “Wally’s Café” with Rita Moreno and James Coco, and Neil Simon’s female version of “The Odd Couple” with Brenda Vaccaro. For three years, she starred as Miss Mamie Lynch on Broadway and on tour in Tommy Tune’s production of “Grease,” and in the 20th Anniversary Tour of “Annie” as Miss Hannigan.
Struthers was also named Best Actress by the Los Angeles Artistic Director Theatre Awards for her role as Louise Seger in the musical “Always… Patsy Cline;” won the Ovation Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Agnes Gooch in the LA production of “Mame,” and a second Ovation Award for “Cinderella.”
What a night! The production was executed flawlessly. The music (mostly pop tune favorites) was performed charmingly by a brilliant cast. Douglas Ladnier was a wily, delightful villain, ranging maniacally around the stage in what could have passed as a pirate costume, complete with eye patch. L. J. Benet (with beautiful, flawless covers) and Larry Saperstein brought a relaxed earnestness in their individual roles and the former’s romance with Darcy Rose Byrnes’ Rapunzel, played with a light touch.
Sally Struthers was absolutely sidesplitting as the wicked Madame and dominated the show; Ralph Cole Jr. was so casually funny, armed with a collection of well-timed asides to the audience…yet this was ultimately an ensemble piece and a work of synergy, playing to each others’ strengths.
RAPUNZEL AND HER HOLIDAY WISH opens on Sunday, December 8 at 5:30 pm and runs through Sunday, December 29 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Performances are Wednesdays at 6PM, Thursdays & Fridays at 7PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 12PM & 4PM (December 21st at 11AM, 3PM, 7PM). No performance on December 25 or December 27 at 7PM. Added performances on December 23 at 12PM & 4PM, December 26 at 3PM, and December 27 at 12PM & 4PM.
Tickets range from $44 - $84 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). There is a $50 “Golden Ticket” add-on available for children ages 4-12 which includes a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance along with a gift bag and special surprises.
Chris Daniels
Arts & Entertainment Reviewer
The Show Report
Photo Credits: Jason Niedle/TETHOS
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