What is Pantomime?
{{no sources|date=February 2016}} [[Image:WarnePantomine1890.jpg|thumb|''The Christmas Pantomime'' colour [[lithograph]] bookcover, 1890]] '''Pantomime''' (often called '''panto''') is a kind of theatre entertainment usually performed around Christmas and the New Year in Britain and a few other English-speaking countries. It must not be confused with mime (acting with gestures but no speech). It is known for its comedy and audience participation. Pantomimes are usually meant for children-however they can be directed at adults. ==History== A ''pantomimos'' in Ancient Greece used to be an entertainment performed by a solo dancer. In the [[Middle Ages]] a form of theatre developed called Commedia dell'arte. This was similar to a pantomime. They told a story which had certain fixed characters: the lovers, the father, the servants etc. The pantomime first arrived in England as a short entertainment (entr'acte) between opera pieces. Eventually it became a separate show. ==The pantomime today== Today the pantomime is traditionally performed at Christmas. It is a show for children, but grownups like it as well. Usually a well-known story is told, e.g. Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, Puss in Boots, The Musicians of Bremen, [[Little Red Riding Hood]] and Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Snow White etc. There is a lot of spoken dialogue but there are also songs, and sometimes the audience join in. There are many traditions in pantomime. These are some of the main ones: *The main young man in the play (the principal boy) may be played by a young woman, and usually in tight-fitting male clothes (such as breeches). *An older woman (the pantomime dame – often the hero's mother) is usually played by a man dressed as a woman. *Risqué (double entendre) jokes, meaning that perfectly ordinary words make people think of a naughty (sexy) meaning. Often the children do not understand these jokes. The jokes are intended for adults. *The audience take part (audience participation).