A Change of Hart

Wrestling star learns new moves as Aladdin's Genie

Every year local theatrical entrepreneur Ross Petty stages a new British-style pantomime for the holidays. Part of the tradition involves casting celebrities in key parts. This year's star turn may seem unlikely to some, but in many ways could hardly be more appropriate: as Aladdin's "Genie of the Lamp", Petty has cast Canada's sovereign of the squared circle, Bret "The Hit Man" Hart.
Well known to World Wrestling Federation aficionados, Hart (now retired from the ring) became more familiar to other television viewers over the past few weeks as Don Cherry's spokesperson in the CBC quest for the "Greatest Canadian". He admits there's a big difference between the world of professional wrestling and stage acting. "The wrestling world is much different from the theatre world, for sure," he says. "The wrestlers were much rougher."
However, the Hit Man knows everything there is to know about cheering for the hero and booing the bad guy. Growing up in a wrestling family, he saw many of the legendary figures close up as a child, and has played both the good guy and the villain as the need arose. "In wrestling it was fun to be the villain," he says. "The interesting thing is a lot of times the so-called good guys weren't always good guys out of the ring, and the villains were sometimes good guys."
Back in the 1960s and '70s, wrestling was different than it is now; much more separated into local circuits, more intimate and less hyped. "Growing up, I admired a guy named Leo Burke, a wrestler from Moncton, and he exemplified all the good qualities in a hero," Hart remembers. But "Archie the Stomper was the greatest single wrestler I ever saw. He was a great villain, and eventually - as you often do in wrestling - he became a good guy."
As for the practitioners of pure evil: "Abdullah the Butcher was probably one of the most monster-like villains. He was one of those rare specimens in wrestling that really put real fear in my heart, even though as I grew older I learned more about the inner workings of wrestling," Hart recalls. "And I remember watching Killer Kowalski when I was four years old. For years after that when my parents wanted to get me to behave, they told me that they'd have to put in a call to Killer Kowalksi."
As for his current colleagues, "Ross is a great villain, and I can see a little bit of my villain character come out in him," says Hart. "And in the Aladdin I can see some of the typical baby-face hero wrestler."
Clearly, the Hit Man is enjoying the new experience. "I think that laughter is always the best medicine, and I can tell from the script that there's going to be a lot of laughter," he says. "I hope I can keep a straight face."
Ross Petty Productions presents Aladdin, The Magical Family Musical at the Elgin Theatre from December 9 to 31. For tickets, visit the Elgin Theatre Box or any Ticketmaster outlet, call TicketMaster at 416.872.5555, or visit www.ticketmaster.ca.

Publication Date: 2004-12-12
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4714