Pantomime
pantomime informally panto type musical comedy stage production designed family entertainment developed england performed throughout united kingdom ireland lesser extent englishspeaking country especially christmas new year season modern pantomime includes song gag slapstick comedy dancing generally combine gendercrossing actor topical humour story less based wellknown fairy tale fable folk tale pantomime participatory form theatre audience encouraged expected sing along certain part music shout phrase performer pantomime long theatrical history western culture dating back era classical theatre developed partly th century commedia dellarte tradition italy european british stage tradition thcentury masque music hall important part pantomime late th century harlequinade outside british isle word pantomime often understood mean miming rather theatrical form described word pantomime adopted latin word pantomimus turn derives greek word παντόμιμος pantomimos consisting παντο panto meaning μῖμος mimos meaning dancer acted role story roman pantomime drew upon greek tragedy greek genre inception although art instituted ancient rome little known preroman greece english word came applied performance according lost oration aelius aristides pantomime known erotic content effeminacy dancing aristidess work responded libanius oration behalf dancer written probably around ad roman pantomime production usually based upon myth legend solo male dancer—clad long silk tunic short mantle pallium often used prop—accompanied sung libretto called fabula saltica dancestory rendered singer chorus though lucian state originally pantomime singer music supplied flute pulse ironshod shoe called scabellum performance might private household minimal personnel else lavish theatrical production involving large orchestra chorus sometimes ancillary actor dancer danced role relying mask stock pose gesture handlanguage cheironomy complex expressive pantomime hand commonly compared eloquent mouth pantomime differed mime artistic nature relative lack farce coarse humour though absent production roman pantomime immensely popular end first century bc end sixth century ad form entertainment spread throughout empire wordless nature art foster knowledge myth roman legend formed subjectmatter – tale love venus mar dido aeneas – italy chief exponent celebrity often protegés influential citizen whose follower wore badge proclaiming allegiance engaged streetfights rival group accompanying song became widely known yet limit imposed upon roman citizen dance populism songtexts factor art much despised adored practitioner usually slave freedman low status disappearance libretto roman pantomime received little modern scholarly attention late th century despite great influence upon roman culture perceived roman art statue famous dancer graffiti object literature renaissance classical culture roman pantomime decisive influence upon modern european concert dance helping transform ballet mere entertainment display technical virtuosity dramatic ballet daction became antecedent writer balletmasters th th century claudefrançois ménestrier – john weaver – jeangeorges noverre – gasparo angiolini – earned respectability attested capability dance render complex story express human emotion middle age mummer play traditional english folk play based loosely saint george dragon legend usually performed christmas gathering contained origin many archetypal element pantomime stage fight coarse humour fantastic creature gender role reversal good defeating evil precursor pantomime also included masque grew pomp spectacle th th century commedia dellarte early english adaptation development english pantomime also strongly influenced continental commedia dellarte form popular theatre arose italy early modern period comedy professional artist travelling province province italy france improvised told comic story held lesson crowd changing main character depending performing scenario used stock character included innamorati young lover vecchi old men pantalone zanni servant arlecchino colombina scaramouche pierrot italian masque performance th century sometimes included harlequin character th century adaptation commedia character became familiar english entertainment standard english harlequinade developed depicting eloping lover harlequin columbine pursued girl father pantaloon comic servant clown pierrot english version th century harlequin became central figure romantic lead basic plot harlequinade remained essentially year except bumbling policeman added chase first two decade th century two rival london theatre lincoln inn field theatre theatre royal drury lane patent theatre presented production began seriously classical story contained element opera ballet ended comic night scene tavern bilkers john weaver dancing master drury lane cited first pantomime produced english stage production success weaver waited produce next pantomime including love mar venus – new entertainment dancing manner antient pantomime year produced pantomime subject perseus andromeda pantomime regular feature drury lane lincoln inn actor manager john rich introduced harlequin theatre pantomime name lun lunatic gained great popularity pantomime especially beginning production necromancer history dr faustus early pantomime silent dumb show performance consisting dancing gesture spoken drama allowed london two later three patent theatre parliament changed restriction large number french performer played london following suppression unlicensed theatre paris although constraint temporary english pantomime remained primarily visual decade dialogue introduced thcentury author wrote david garrick formed kind harlequinade different seen opéracomique paris harlequin character speak majority early pantomime retellings story ancient greek roman literature break two act harlequinade zany comic business performed theatre historian david mayer explains use batte slapstick transformation scene led harlequinade rich gave harlequin power create stage magic league offstage craftsman operated trick scenery armed magic sword bat actually slapstick rich harlequin treated weapon wand striking scenery sustain illusion changing setting one locale another object transformed harlequin magic bat pantomime gradually became topical comic often involving spectacular elaborate theatrical effect far possible colley cibber david garrick others competed rich produced pantomime pantomime continued grow popularity – early pantomime classical story often supplanted story adapted european fairy tale fable folk tale classic english literature nursery rhyme also harlequinade grew importance often longest important part entertainment pantomime usually dual title gave often humorous idea pantomime story harlequinade harlequin harlequin second case harlequin used adjective followed word described pantomime opening example harlequin cock robin jenny wren fortunatus water life three bear three gift three wish little man wood little maid harlequin first word first word harlequin initially important character title continued include word harlequin even first decade joseph grimaldi came dominate london pantomime made character clown colourful agent chaos important entertainment harlequin time harlequin began portrayed romantic stylised way grimaldis performance elevated role acute observation upon foible absurdity society happy talent holding ridicule finest practical satyrist sic ever existed extravagantly natural saturnine lookeron acknowledged sway neither wise proud fair young old ashamed laugh till tear coursed cheek joe comicality grimaldis performance important expanding importance harlequinade dominated pantomime entertainment therefore child went theatre around christmas new year holiday often easter time primarily witness craziness harlequinade chase scene exciting part panto fastpaced included spectacular scenic magic well slapstick comedy dancing acrobatics presence slapstick part show evolved character found italian commedia dellarte plot harlequinade relatively simple starcrossed lover harlequin columbine run away columbine foolish father pantaloon slowed pursuit servant clown bumbling policeman time grimaldi clown became principal schemer trying thwart lover pantaloon merely assistant opening fairy story often blended story love triangle crossgrained old father owns business whose pretty daughter pursued two suitor one love poor worthy father prefers wealthy fop another character servant father establishment daughter forcibly wed fop elope lover good fairy arrives followed often spectacular part production magical transformation scene early pantomime harlequin possessed magical power used help love interest escape would tap wooden sword derivative commedia dellarte slapstick batte floor scenery make grand transition world around take place scene would switch inside house castle generally speaking street town storefront backdrop transformation sequence presided fairy queen fairy godmother character good fairy magically transformed lead opening fairy story new identity harlequinade character following example speech fairy would give transformation passage pantomime adaptation guy fawkes story fairy creates character harlequinade typical fashion simply telling character change principal male female character beginning plotline often played young woman became lover columbine harlequin mother father columbine became pantaloon servant comic character became clown would transition new character scenery around changed would proceed zany fun section performance time grimaldi clown would see transformed setting cry harlequinade began various chase scene harlequin columbine manage escape clutch clown pantaloon despite acrobatic leap former window atop ladder often wellmeaning misguided action policeman eventually dark scene cave forest lover caught harlequin magic wand seized grasp clown would flourish triumph good fairy would reappear father agreed marriage young lover would transport whole company grand final scene end harlequinade despite visible decline pantomime still fought stay alive theatre original patent theatre permitted perform spoken dialogue importance silent harlequinade began decrease importance fairytale part pantomime increased two writer helped elevate importance popularity fairytale portion pantomime james planché henry james byron emphasized pun humorous word play tradition continues pantomime today manager drury lane augustus harris produced cowrote series extraordinarily popular pantomime focusing spectacle production pushed transition emphasizing comic business pantomime opening grand processional end th century harlequinade become merely brief epilogue pantomime dwindling brief display dancing acrobatics lingered decade longer finally disappeared although comic element incorporated pantomime story last harlequinade played lyceum theatre wellknown pantomime artist era included william payne son payne brother vesta tilley dan leno herbert campbell little tich clarice mayne dorothy ward cullen carthy traditionally performed around christmas family audience british pantomime continues popular form theatre incorporating song dance buffoonery slapstick crossdressing injokes topical reference audience participation mild sexual innuendo scottish comedian craig ferguson memoir summarizes contemporary pantomime classic folklore fairy tale loosely retold slapstick theatrical comedymusical writing think mamma mia featuring three stooge everyones back catalogue abbas furthermore including audience participation reminiscent showing film rocky horror picture show pantomime story line script usually make direct reference christmas almost always based traditional childrens story particularly fairy tale charles perrault joseph jacob han christian andersen grimm brother popular pantomime story include cinderella aladdin dick whittington cat snow white seven dwarf well jack beanstalk peter pan pus boot sleeping beauty traditional story include mother goose beauty beast robinson crusoe wizard oz babe wood combined element robin hood little red riding hood goldilocks three bear sinbad st george dragon bluebeard little mermaid thumbelina prior many story made pantomime familiarity audience original childrens story generally assumed plot line almost always adapted comic satirical effect character situation story often interpolated plot instance panto version aladdin may include element ali baba forty thief arabian night tale jack beanstalk might include reference nursery rhyme childrens story involving character called jack jack jill certain familiar scene tend recur regardless plot relevance highly unlikely resolution plot common straight retellings original story rare form number convention changed weakened little year mean obligatory convention common genre popular theatre melodrama leading male juvenile character principal boy traditionally played young woman male garment breech romantic partner usually principal girl female ingénue older woman pantomime dame – often hero mother usually played man drag risqué double entendre often wringing innuendo perfectly innocent phrase intended understood child audience entertainment adult audience participation including call he behind look behind oh yes oh isnt audience always encouraged hiss jeer villain awwwww poor victim rejected dame usually enamoured one male character music may original likely combine wellknown tune rewritten lyric least one audience participation song traditional one half audience may challenged sing chorus louder half child audience may even invited stage sing along member cast animal played actor animal skin animal costume often pantomime horse cow though could even camel appropriate setting played two actor single costume one head front leg body back leg good fairy enters stage right left audience perspective villain enters stage left right audience perspective convention go back medieval mystery play right side stage symbolised heaven left side symbolised hell slapstick comedy routine slosh scene may performed often decorating baking scene humour based throwing messy substance th century british pantomime often concluded harlequinade freestanding entertainment slapstick since slapstick incorporated main body show th century pantomime typically included transformation scene fairy queen magically transformed pantomime character character harlequinade performed harlequinade chorus considered extra onstage often appear multiple scene different character perform variety song dance throughout show multiple role may much stagetime lead character point performance character including dame comic sit bench sing cheerful song forget fear thing fear often ghost appears behind first character ignore audience warning danger character soon circle bench followed ghost audience cry behind one one character see ghost run last dame ghost come face face whereupon ghost frightened visage dame run away another pantomime tradition engage celebrity guest star practice date back late th century augustus harris proprietor theatre royal drury lane hired wellknown variety artist pantomime contemporary pantomime production often adapted allow star showcase wellknown act even spot little relation pantomime plot critic michael billington argued star enters spirit entertainment likely add overall effect becomes showcase star stand outside action celebrity presence likely detracts notwithstanding marketing advantage star brings piece billington said ian mckellen aladdin let hair lift skirt reveal nifty pair leg appetite double entendre told decorator front porch could good lick mckellen adopts suitable look mockoutrage least tell grandchild saw mckellens twankey huge main role within pantomime usually follows pantomime performed united kingdom ireland switzerland australasia canada jamaica south africa malta andorra among place performed mostly christmas new year season many theatre city town throughout united kingdom ireland continue present annual professional pantomime pantomime also popular amateur dramatics society throughout uk ireland pantomime season roughly speaking late november february production staged many village hall similar venue across country kitty gurnosdavies state doctoral dissertation pantomime responsible live performance uk one year – season saw pantomime performance generating £m first time recorded british history first produced annually andorra englishspeaking mum group british expatriate community teatre de le fontetes parish la massana produced english englishspeaking international volunteer part advent celebration supported comú de la massana local business club international dandorra vallnord ski station raise money recently less privileged child andorra pantomime australia christmas popular genre declined greatly since middle th century several later professional production recover cost christmas pantomime performed yearly hudson village theatre quebec since ross petty production staged pantomime toronto elgin theatre christmas season pantomime imported england produced royal alexandra theatre white rock player club white rock bc presented annual pantomime christmas season since royal canadian theatre company produce pantomime british columbia written ellie king since theatre replacement producing east van panto partnership cultch vancouver national pantomime jamaica started educator henry fowler greta fowler pioneer little theatre movement jamaica among first player louise bennettcoverley notable player included oliver samuel charles hyatt willard white rita marley dawn penn annual pantomime open boxing day little theatre kingston strongly influenced aspect jamaican culture folklore history pantomime imported british expatriate audience later adapted maltese producer maltese audience many former territory british empire pantomime declined popularity independence seen symbol colonial rule study shown genre remains strong malta pantomime brought switzerland british immigrant performed regularly geneva since basel since hangar basel airport geneva amateur operatic society performed pantomime annually since since basel english panto group performed scala basel december annual pantomime running christmas uae elsewhere gcc since mainly performed dubai panto trade name h productionsae conjunction outside box event llc increased three pantomime christmas since – dubai abu dhabi one location dubai pantomime theatre queen elizabeth cruise ship theatre erth hotel abu dhabi formerly armed force officer club hotel pantomime described article seldom performed united state recent decade consequence american commonly understand word pantomime refer art mime practised mime artist according russell peck university rochester earliest pantomime production u cinderella pantomime production new york march new york august philadelphia baltimore production olympic theatre new york humpty dumpty ran least performance one source say performance becoming longestrunning pantomime history production cinderella ucla freud theatre starring zsa zsa gabor since people light theatre company malvern pennsylvania presenting annual christmas pantomime season stage repertory theatre houston texas performing original pantomimestyle musical christmas holiday since lythgoe family production produced christmas pantomime since california itv panto victorian burlesque weihnachtsmärchen christmas fairy tale purim spiel broadbent rj history pantomime london simpkin marshall hamilton kent co ltd chaffee judith olly crick routledge companion commedia dellarte routledge isbn hall e r wyles ed new direction ancient pantomime oxford lawner lynne harlequin moon new york harry n abrams mayer david iii harlequin element english pantomime – cambridge massachusetts harvard university press isbn mcconnell stott andrew pantomime life joseph grimaldi edinburgh canongate book isbn richards jeffrey golden age pantomime slapstick spectacle subversion victorian england b tauris isbn smith winifred commedia dellarte new york benjamin blom wilson e story pantomime london home van thal musicaltalk podcast – discussing british pantomime origin tradition geneva amateur operatic society pantomime show uk archived wayback machine secret pantomime society theatre britain madrid player panto wale seen american eye pantomime archived wayback machine catherine haill v rise fall pantomime harlequinade