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written and directed by Izad Etemadi

Etemadi Entertainment, Hamilton Fringe Festival, Theatre Aquarius Studio, Hamilton

July 17–26, 2026

Townsperson #3: “Would you like to put something in my basket?”

Stage musicals based on Disney animated movies focus on princes and princesses. But have you ever wondered what the townsfolk in those musicals are thinking? Just in case you haven’t, Izad Etemadi has. It may seem that these townsfolk do nothing but dance, sing backup, move furniture and react en masse to whatever the royal characters may do. But Etemadi reveals to us in his hilarious fringe show how much more there is to their seemingly unimportant lives.

Etemadi plays the titular Townsperson #3 who comes from a long line of Townspeople. As he tells us, his greatest wish as a Townskid was to be deemed old enough to carry a picnic basket when all the Townscouples go on a picnic. He always imagined what wonderful things might be inside those baskets, only to discover, once he was old enough, that they were completely empty.

Townsperson #3’s description of where he lives and the problems the royal family is having with a daughter who can shoot ice from her fingertips gives us a pretty firm clue that he is a Townsperson in Arendelle, the fictional kingdom featured in the 2013 movie Frozen, although the title and no place or personal names from the movie are ever mentioned. Much of the show’s humour comes from the matter-of-fact way #3 describes the fantastic events of the story from an outsider’s perspective, such as departure of a “monster” and the town’s sudden freezing over.

Etemadi is not alone in describing his experiences since it so happens that Townsperson #7, played by Julia Pulo, has just been dismissed as handmaiden to the worst princess ever. #7 is not really upset because now she feels she can fulfil her dreams of becoming a carpenter and an independent person.

Unfortunately, forces beyond her control, such as the mandated linking of arms to enter a procession, cause her to become “married” to #3 despite the fact that he is gay. Even more surprising, since she has never “shared a bed” with #3 is that she becomes pregnant. So, farewell to her dreams.

Besides being a satire of Disney-based musicals and exposing how absurd their stories are, Etemadi’s play also serves to critique the ideas inherent in such musicals such as their heteronormativity and presumption of male dominance. Etemadi makes fun of Frozen as being hailed as some sort of major breakthrough since, for a change, it celebrates sisterly love.

#3 interrupts his monologues with attempts at flirting with a lucky male chosen among the audience. #3’s flirting and the dialogues of #3 and #7 are hilariously interrupted with sound cues from the Frozen soundtrack signalling that the two have stage business to do or background oohing to sing.

Anyone who has seen Etemadi on stage knows what an engaging stage presence he has. He knows about Frozen from the inside having played Olaf the Snowman in the Grand Theatre London production in 2025. Etemadi is expert at playing the innocent, making #3 seemingly unaware of the numerous double entendres that lace his speech.

In Julia Pulo, Etemadi has found exactly the right partner for his show. Audiences will know Pulo from the Canadian Stage pantos of 2024 and 2025 she has starred in, where her ebullient personality and fine singing have energized the shows. Townsperson #3 gives Pulo the chance to showcase her talent for full-on comedy.

Music theatre fans will be delighted with Etemadi’s script for Townsperson #3 which packs in myriad references to or direct quotations from classic musicals from Kiss Me, Kate (1948) to The Sound of Music (1959) to Hamilton (2015) and Dear Evan Hansen (2015). The play does seem to end about four times before it is finally over, but I am certain Etemadi will be able to solve that issue. Otherwise, Townsperson #3 is a thorough delight no lover of comedy or music theatre should miss.

Christopher Hoile

Photos: Title illustration; Julia Pulo as Townsperson #7 and Izad Etemadi as Townsperson #3. © 2026 Etemadi Entertainment.

For tickets visit hftco.ca.