“Pirate Pete’s Parrot,” a beloved family show that has captivated audiences of all ages, returns to the stage at The Secret Theatre in Woodside, along with original cast members Richard Mazda (Pirate Pete) and Rick Benson (Baron Bigbottom).
Mazda and Benson have been a part of the show since it premiered in 2005. The show is the longest-running show in Queens, running from 2012 until the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mazda, who is also the creator and writer of “Pirate Pete’s Parrot,” discussed the show’s origins with QNS.
“The inspiration is English panto, which is highly irreverent. And another big feature of panto is audience participation,” Mazda said. “There’s a lot of interactivity in the show, too. When American audiences first saw this form of play back in 2005, I wondered if they’d like it, but they really do.”
The show follows Pirate Pete, who lives with his mom, Pam, and his parrot, Polly. Mazda describes Pete as “a lovable rogue who is always going on adventures, [and] he never pays the rent on time.”
The villain of the story is Baron Bigbottom, who will kick them out of their home if they don’t pay the rent. Pirate Pete decides he must find treasure to pay the rent, while Polly decides she wants pancakes instead of birdseed for breakfast.
The best thing about this show, according to Mazda, is that “you see the joy on parents’ faces when they see their kids having a blast. That’s all they want. And we’re providing the kind of entertainment that entertains the parents, too… This is a show where parents can get a lot of joy out of seeing their kids having fun, but they’re also having fun too. They come to the show and they have a great time.”
Mazda also hopes that he is introducing young children to their first show.
“Maybe they’ve never seen a show and they come and see that show [Pirate Pete’s Parrot] and they love it and they want more,” Mazda said. “And maybe they go off to see a Broadway show. So I hope I’m turning little children into actors or at least people who love the arts.”
The Secret Theatre is located at 38-02 61st St. in Woodside.
The show will play once a month, with the first date being Saturday, Aug. 13, from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $12.50 for kids. Purchase tickets here.
