Joe McGurl of Dunmore has taken the helm as director of the upcoming Panto Production of Jack and the Beanstalk to be presented for two weekends in December by the Scranton Shakespeare Festival at ShakesSpace at the Marketplace at Steamtown.
Joe’s SSF credits are long, including Othello (Iago,) Love Labour’s Lost (Boyet,) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theseus,) Richard III (Lord Rivers/Brackenbury,) Troilus & Cressida (Thersites,) Much Ado ABout Nothing (Don Jon,) Twelfth Night (Sir Toby,) Pirates of Penzance (Major General,) and Damn Yankees (Applegate.)
“I’ve been involved with the festival since its inception 13 years ago, and have loved performing on stage every summer, “Joe says. “But this is my first time directing for SSF!
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve really been wanting to stretch my legs more on the production side of the stage and to bring the tools and experience I’ve gained throughout the years into the directorial world for SSF. It’s been an exciting opportunity to step into this different role.”
Joe’s parents, Brian and Dawn McGurl, are both very active with the Festival. Joe, an award-winning author and actor with 15+ years of professional theater experience, both in the Scranton area and various Off-Broadway productions in New York City, is a graduate of Dunmore High School and the University of Scranton.
Asked what exactly is Panto, Joe explains,“Panto or pantomime is a tradition in British theater usually performed around the Christmas holiday season. And while we, as Americans, traditionally think of pantomime as synonymous with miming, a panto is the furthest thing from a silent performance. Pantos are filled with music, dancing, slapstick comedy, actors in drag, and tons of silly gags where the audience is encouraged to participate.”
He points out that Panto stories, which are designed for both adults and children, traditionally are sendups of classic fairy or folk tales with a modern twist and packed with local references and topical humor tailored for the audience and region it’s being performed in.
“Our panto, or Scranto as we like to call it, is catered towards children and families to enjoy, notes McGurl. “However, there are plenty of jokes and humor that will be just for the adults in the room. There really is something for everyone in this show and we can guarantee a fun trip to the theater for all audience members as we continue to establish this new holiday tradition here in Scranton. Last year’s version of Snow White and the Seven Scrantonians was really a hit with those attending.”
Panto is different from anything in the States. “I think what sets panto apart from what we typically see being performed in America is that the audience is really encouraged to be as much a part of the show as the actors. We want people to boo when the villain comes on stage and cheer for our heroes and to dance in their seats and sing along out loud, Joe points out. “I believe the Scranton audience shares many similarities with the British style of humor that is being presented here. It’s very irreverent, self-deprecating, and not afraid to criticize the “nobility” or upper class. In many ways, it’s a show for the working class people which we don’t always get to see around here.”
While the main-stage summer SSF program is thrilled to be able to work with actors from all across the globe, the organization is very proud that the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk is comprised completely of local actors.
“It was really important to myself and the production team to utilize the great wealth of talent we have in this area and present a holiday show for NEPA, by NEPA,” Joe discloses. “We have SSF veterans like Conor McGuigan and Kelly Jean Graham, as well some newer faces to the organization.”
The full cast list includes Conor McGuigan as Dame Hildegard Trotter; Maddie Casey in the title role of Jack Trotter; Nick Grevera as Barry Trotter; Kelly Jean Graham as the Fairy Beanie; Jimmy Williams as Lord Dilly Dally; Isabella Snyder as Daisy Dally; Ryan Repeckie as Winnie the Moo, and members of the SSF Youth Ensemble.
Asked whether he prefers comedy or drama, Joe answers, “Maybe this is a cop-out answer, but I really can’t choose, I truly love doing both for very different reasons! Most of my background is in comedy and improvisation, so I think that will always be my first love and what I gravitate towards.
“Comedies allow you to act in a fun way that we don’t typically get to do in everyday life and there are few things that are as rewarding as a performer than getting that big laugh out of an audience.”
That being said, Joe adds, “I love digging deep into dramatic works. I feel at my most ‘actory’ when I get to play a character different than myself and get to attempt to translate all of the complex emotions we, as humans, have in a believable and very real way for the audience to connect with.”
Finally, what can Jack and the Beanstalk teach or show the audience?
“It depends on the adaptation, but I think that Jack and the Beanstalk is congruous to the struggle between the poor and working class vs the elite. There’s a big giant that lives in a castle in the sky and he’s stealing all of the food and wealth from the people that live at the bottom,” Joe points out.
“That’s something that might feel relatable to so many people today–there being a class of people that are virtually untouchable who continually profit off of the hard work of those below them, says the director. “But also, this is a holiday show for families that is not taking itself seriously, so really what you’re really going to be seeing is a lot of goofiness and singing along to fun songs to get Scranton in a fun holiday spirit!”