SCENERY PAINTING FOR THE AMATEUR MUSICAL THEATRE and PANTOMIME
WHAT'S IN A PANTOMIME ? Page one

This page is still under construction, and was last updated on
May 10, 2011 12:37 PM

At the moment I am just making headings, with notes to remind me.
Details coming later when I have the time.

I have been involved with Pantomimes for about fifty years and over that time have gathered a list of the ingredients of what makes this traditional Victorian entertainment so popular. Below (but not in any order) are some of the elements you will find when you "Go to the Panto"
WHAT IS A PANTOMIME? In Britain Pantomime is a hugely popular family entertainment which is presented all over the country at Christmas time. Every theatre from the grandest opera house to the smallest village hall puts on a “panto”.

This type of show dates back to the middle ages and, over the centuries has taken on the traditions of the Italian Commedia dell’ Arte and British Music Hall to produce its very own idiosyncratic art form . Today a Pantomime is a musical based on a Fairy Story with songs, dances, comic routines and certain traditions - here are a few of them.

THE GHOST "It's behind you"
"OH YES HE IS"

"SONG SHEET" The audience is taught a simple silly song. The words are on a song sheet (often dropped down from the flies)

My favourite :-
Why does a brown cow give white milk,
when it only eats green grass?

The audience is divided into half and there's a competition to see who can sing loudest.

VILLAGE OPENING
THE DAME Is most often the Hero’s Mother or some other kindly woman. In “Sleeping Beauty” she is the Princess’s Nanny, “Nurse Nellie”. In Aladdin - Widow Twankey. She is always played by a man, not a drag queen, but rather a comedian or comic actor. But even a serious actor such as Sir Ian McKellan has been a notable “Dame."
PRINCIPAL BOY Is played by a tall young woman with gorgeous legs which are shown off in silken tights beneath a short tunic. She and the “Principal Girl”, the Princess, also provide some very lovely and tuneful singing.
ENTRANCE OF BADDIE Always from the Audience (House) Right. Audience encouraged to boo and hiss. Usually bathed in a green light.
ENTRANCE OF FAIRY Always from the Audience (House) Left
SPECIALITY ACT
SLAPSTICK SCENE
TRANSFORMATION SPECTACULAR Usually just before the Interval. This is often a complicated set and needs the Interval time to dismantle.
FRONT CLOTH To enable large scene changes to take place behind this. Often "On the way to the Village" or London; or Castle; or Cave
THE WALK DOWN. Last scene of the show. Last words in rhyming couplets, All in their finery. Dame especially. Main characters usually in wedding attire. A chance for the audience to clap the various people taking part.

DOUBLE ACT :- Wishy and Washy; Ugly sisters (Usually men in outlandish costumes)

SINGLE COMEDIAN THWARTED IN LOVE - Buttons;
DANCING GIRLS
LOCAL PLACES AND CHARACTERS MENTIONED
SONGS BY PRINCIPALS
SPECIAL EFFECTS Flash powder; Ultra Violet;
CHILD FROM AUDIENCE Children or child invited up onto the stage from the audience to helpwith a song or trick.
BIRTHDAY CHILD Picked out from audience (with spotlight) and asked to stand up. Parents connive to do this.
PERSONALITIES With the larger professional theatres there is often a well known personality (Usually from TV) brought in to play a major role Helps to put "bums on seats"
In community/amateur theatres it is often fun to encourage, say, the local Doctor or Clergyman to take a small part.
CAST GOES INTO AUDIENCE - Often in a chase.
GUARDIANS. Panto is all about getting the audience involved. One ruse is for a character, say, Buttons, to place an object - perhaps a magic key- on the stage and to ask the audience to ensure no-one goes near it. If the audience sees another character going to touch the object then they are to shout out Button's name so he can come running onto the stage and stop the person stealing his object. This can be a running gag throughout the show or for as long as the producer decides.
ANIMALS - Actors dressed up in skins such as Cat; Daisy the Cow; Horse; Goose; Camel; Many a famous actor started life as the back legs of a horse in Panto.
Special thanks to 'Trish for help in compiling this page.
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