If you are not from the UK you may be wondering what this
pantomime thing is, so I thought I would give a quick history.
It all started way back in the 17th Century when
the Italians sent over a kind of street theatre called Commedia dell’arte. This was satirical improvised theatre that
eventually became incredibly popular and led to the well known Harlequin
character that most of you will be more than familiar with.
The harlequinades stayed around for a while, but those
Victorians decided to make it a more British affair and the pantomime as we
know it was born.
It has, of course, continued to this day and is a well loved
Christmas treat and often a child’s first experience of real theatre.
It has its own little features you really don't find
anywhere else.
Boys play girls (the Dame), girls play boys (the Principal
boy), it is full of the worlds worst jokes and relies on audience
participation...boos and hisses for the villains, hoorahs for the goodies, ‘Its
behind you’ as someone pretends not to see something, and the forever popular ‘Oh
yes it is, oh no it isn't, oh yes it is, oh no it isn't,’ that could go on
forever between a cast member and the audience.
Do not be surprised to see humans dressed as animals and really bad
stage effects are a must. There is
usually a Prince, a Princess and a witch, but don't be surprised to see some
strange character appear in a pantomime they shouldn’t really belong in, for
example we had a fairy in Robin Hood.
If you have never been to the pantomime then please do go,
who could possibly live their lives without having sweets or pretend water
thrown all over them? To be honest, it is
a load of rubbish but great fun and hugely entertaining lol
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