Ingredients of pantomime

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 28 November 2003 13:04:32

Well, there's a principal boy (invariably played by a girl); there's a dame (or two), played by a man (or two); usually loosely based on a well-known story (eg Cinderella, Aladdin); there's almost always a bit where somebody on stage says 'oh, yes I will', and the audience thunders 'oh, no you won't' (or some variant thereof); there's also a bit where somebody (or something) is creeping up behind somebody on stage, and the audience shouts 'look behind you'.

Our local panto usually features songs with well-known tunes, and specially written lyrics (sadly, we probably won't be attending our local panto this year - wife and I had a 'discussion' yesterday evening - I find Christmas a difficult time - so much that one has to do, supposedly because it's enjoyable, but mostly it's a chore). There are many traditions associated with pantomime, but overall, I guess, it's a chance for a theatre company (and its audience) to let their hair down - maybe to theatre what the last night of the proms is to classical music?