What is pantomime or panto ? In Britain, during the winter holiday season, pantomime is a Christmas tradition and it’s not what you think.
If you visit Britain between November and mid-January, try to see a Panto . It’s a mid-winter tradition unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Forget about mime – you meet those silent clowns with white painted faces who pretend to step on glass walls and climb invisible stairs. The family entertainment that the British call “Panto” has nothing to do with any of those fake walks against the wind or those fake struggles to lift balloons.
And there is nothing silent about the British Panto either . It is as far from the mime as possible. In fact, it is probably the loudest and loudest type of theater you can attend (with the whole family) in the UK.
Peculiarly british
Panto is a particularly British tradition of winter musical comedy theater. It begins with familiar fairy tales and children’s stories (Cinderella, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and her cat, Snow White) and injects a bit of music hall-style comedy (British Vaudeville), contemporary references, and audience participation to create raucous entertainment and silly it is.However, pleasing kids has enough crafty references to entertain all adults, too.
Panto has very deep roots, drawing on the traditions of the Commedia dell Arte of the 15th and 16th centuries for a variety of common characters and other conventions. These always include:
- The Principal Boy: almost always played by a girl. The male youth lead, Aladdin or Cinderella’s Prince Charming, is usually played by a young woman with big legs (lately usually a TV celebrity) in a short suit with stockings. When this character was introduced in Victorian times, audiences would have been surprised to see the display of the shapely legs of a young woman. But when playing a boy, in what was called a breeches role, the actresses were allowed to show as much leg as they dared.
- Panto Dame, played by a dragged man, is a comedic and camping female character. Her costume and makeup are totally outrageous – the more exaggerated the better. She is usually an older woman character, but in Cinderella, not only the stepmother but also the Ugly Sisters are panto dames. In Aladdin (over 200 years old, one of Britain’s oldest panto stories) she is Aladdin’s mother, a poor washerwoman known as The Widow Twankey. Popular comedians, and occasionally famous lead actors with a sense of fun, often put a wintry spin on as a lady of the panto.
- A side kick or a “chorus” figure There is always a supporting character on stage who speaks to the audience, encouraging them to shout and clap or comment comically on the action. In Cinderella, that character is Buttons, her father’s servant, Baron Hardup, and her friend. In Aladdin he is Wishee Washee, the hero’s brother.
- A comedy animal Most pantos feature a comical animal played by two actors in costume. In Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack’s cow is a Panto cow. If a story’s plot has no place for an animal, you can be sure the panto writers will fit one.
- Lots of audience participation When you go to a panto in Britain, you can’t help but be drawn to the traditional shouting and carry on. Villains hiss, lament misfortunes, and several key lines: “Oh yeah!” – “Oh no, it isn’t!” and “He is behind you!” they are yelled at by everyone at appropriate times.
- Pantos contemporary references and raunchy jokes are familiar spectacles, but there’s usually enough hint of the nudge-nudge wink-wink variety to keep the grown-ups happy.
- A transformation scene Most Pantos have a time when designers show their special scenarios most magical effects: flashing lights, characters disappear, clouds of smoke. Each story has its traditional transformation scene: the appearance of Cinderella in her ball gown with her coach and lackeys, Aladdin’s discovery of the geniuses in the cave of jewels.
Famous guest stars
It’s easy to imagine that having celebrities play key characters in Panto is relatively new, tied to our contemporary crazy celebrity culture. But in fact, the use of famous guest stars dates back more than 100 years.
Before film, television, and popular sports provided an immediate supply, producers used to employ well-known variety artists and music hall stars. Today, audiences are likely to find their favorite soap opera stars, well-known comedians, and pop stars and winners of reality shows performing in panto.
Where and when to find a Panto
Starting a few weeks before Christmas and continuing through January and February, all British cities will have pantos with well-known national and international celebrities.
Big celebrity pantos often go to smaller regional theaters throughout the season, and wherever you go during the three to four weeks after Christmas, you are likely to find a local professional or hobbyist company hosting a panto. The best way to find one is to read local magazines or look at bulletin boards in town halls and in shop windows. In smaller cities and towns, simply ask a local if there is a panto nearby. The smaller the destination, the more likely everyone will know about the panto.
An even better way to find a Panto is to check out my updated list of this season’s best Pantos in the UK. But don’t expect too much. In mid-October, some dates are already sold out.
