panto dame its behind you. His career began at the Surrey Theatre in 1886, and his performances particularly his Mother Goose in 1902, which he played alongside a gaggle of live animals came to define the role of the dame as we know her now: the over-the-top, unlucky-in-love, slapstick heart of the show. This summer, I was followed across the whole of the country with people shouting the words paedophile and groomer at me. He's fomenting hatred against men that dress up as women for entertainment, it's been happening for generations, pantomime dames, (look behind you) Priscilla, Dame Edna ffs #auspol #stopit The weird and wonderful story of British pantomime. John Rich, a leading theatre impresario, was the first to take these well-known characters to the English stage. So when youre planning your next panto, use this checklist and make sure youve included everything that you want to. This phrase is also the primary component of the famous Ghost Gag scene which appears in most pantomimes. . One of the most extensive messy scenes Ive seen is a broken ships bathroom which spews water everywhere (and I mean everywhere). Gender bent fairies and baddies are commonplace (I have a particular love of gender bending the fairy in Dick Whittington). The plots would follow a familiar pantomime route, with magic, slapstick and comedy chases. And as times have changed with people more used to the sight of legs the principal boy became less relevant to a world of panto. Pantomime has become quintessentially British: as British as Earl Grey tea or a good Indian curry. It wouldnt be Christmas in theatres without someone being hit over the head with an inanimate object. Certainly Grimaldi liked to play on this mixture of light and darkness in his character, telling his audiences, I am Grim all day, but I make you laugh at night. It also meant the actors could make political jokes and satirical comments without being recognised. Although often warm and sympathetic characters, dames may also be employed as comic antagonists, such as with the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella. Furthermore, countries like Jamaica have their twist on the classic panto with their pantos combining the traditions we know and love with local Anansi folklore. "It's behind you!" In some versions, Pantalone also had a servant known as Punchinello. Cultural historian and writer Christopher Frayling delves into the archive to explore the rich and surprising history of pantomime. All Rights Reserved. Pantomime horses, cows, cats (and indeed a variety of alternative animals) form a core role in the show. and 'Oh yes it is!. This faded tradition came about in part because of the novelty that came from seeing the legs of a girl in tights a breeches role rather than in the modest skirts that women were normally restricted to at the time. By the Victoria era, a visit to the pantomime was an essential Christmas event for those who could afford it. panto dame its behind youokinawan sweet potato tempura recipe. Companies began touring their shows around Italy and France, performing at fairgrounds and telling the tale of their main characters. Drag artists are seen as a representation of the queer community. So perhaps the future casting possibilities for women are not quite as bleak as they once were. Christmas, for many of us, would not be Christmas without pantomime; and pantomime was the place we first discovered the magic of theatre. In contemporary theatre, important progress is being made in casting for women. Jason Peck. 0000002098 00000 n 225 28 This character is still seen in pantomime today as the puppet Mr Punch. Its the writers responsibility to be better, funnier, smarter. Small changes are shifting the landscape of dames today. You wont see those traditional commedia dellarte characters anymore but the essence of their ideas, slapstick and fun remains. Bn:b(r*8bsRo{| \obS#GZ|?Phz"J\C?|qv&I*bl#pOx. (How old are you?, Four years old, Really? Why is there such a marked difference in public sentiment towards panto dames and drag queens? This cleverly captured the rhythms of ordinary speech, while opening up chasms of lunacy, one absurdity on top of another. He took over the lease of the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane and it became home to spectacular annual pantomimes that ran all year from Easter to Christmas. He has eyes in the back of his head for a joke and understands timing better than Big Ben. Pantomime's history is a story of border crossings, as plots and performers slip across national, linguistic and cultural boundaries. What is panto Dame its behind you? Selected children are invited on stage and involved in comedy improv from the dame or comic. Im just trying to be funny. Ellacott echoes this point. The strange key to Leno's success - and to the character of the Dame ever since - was his creation of a credible woman whom everyone knows is being played by a man. They may be the protagonist's mother, as in Jack and the Beanstalk and Robinson Crusoe, or a nursemaid to the protagonist, as in Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. Harris wrote many famed pantomimes including Little Red Riding Hood and Little Bo-Peep. Im enjoying myself and then I think, What are you really laughing at here? Samuel runs Drag Queen Story Hour UK, a company that organises drag queens reading stories to children in libraries. The characters were so well-known it made natural sense to incorporate them in popular shows. We know, for example, that these performers visited England on several occasions; British and European playwrights from Shakespeare and Lope de Vega to Moliere would all draw on commedia characters and traditions. This convention is commonly broken nowadays but serves as an excellent foundation upon which to build your blocking. Pantomime initially developed from an Italian theatrical discipline. Many people like to separate the two. AETNUK. Theatre was the place where everyone came to be entertained; and many of the plays spectators enjoyed were stories about what it meant to be British. Pantomime has become quintessentially British: as British as Earl Grey tea or a good Indian curry. Gradually more women are being cast as the dame, and drag performers are taking on other roles in shows, such as last years all-drag tour of Dick Whittington. Whether we mock or celebrate makes a difference, and with such enormous and avid audiences, pantos have the power to influence peoples prejudices. panto dame its behind you - Thanh Vi But for many children it is their favourite part of the production. Prince William 'to give ''loving'' speech about Charles and Camilla at They are instigated by a cast member but also happen unexpectedly. But the Regency Clown never ends up in gaol. In the panto there is lots of jokes and the line 'he's behind you' is famous as there is always a scene in a panto where someone is looking for something and it is always behind them. Be it Cinderellas quick change into a ballgown, Jack climbing the famous Beanstalk or Aladdin discovering the riches that lie in the cave of wonders, the transformation scene is often the most lavish of any pantomime traditions (except for the finales of course!). Often a favourite pantomime tradition for adults in the audience, the ancient art of double entendre is an established element of the panto form. The Arts Council doesn't recognise it as an art form. Miss Digby/Dinotabot on Twitter: "What's with Babets obsession with The Christmas Pantomime colour lithograph bookcover, 1890, showing the harlequinade characters. The characters are plagued by ghosts, ghouls, goblins and nasties. panto dame its behind you. You can allow people to have the elements of the traditions they enjoy, adds Joseph, and dispose of the stuff thats going to make people feel uncomfortable. 0000003446 00000 n It has its roots in ancient Greece, and via Italy and France, insinuates itself into Britain. Berwick Kaler, who says this years show at York Theatre Royal is his last, promises loyal local audience a night of absolute rubbish. But unlike Arlecchino, the first English Harlequins did not speak. That most traditional of Christmas shows, Peter Pan has transferred from Bristol Old Vic to the National Theatre in London. <<1e2a2cb2dfd82d42964b08e322d0618b>]>> Traditionally fairies enter from stage right, and villains from stage left. He examines its role in our more enlightened, politically correct times and hears how companies are striving to stage pantomimes in 2020. Survey finds 1 in 8 Brits believe they could pull off the perfect bank robbery? Passing on entertainment traditions from generations past, An understanding of where British culture has come from, and where its heading, To keep alive the magic of pantomime for the future, Some things dont need to change theyre still funny and entertaining, If it aint broke, dont fix it tried and tested routines always make people laugh, You have to learn from the past in order to improve the future, Oh yes it is followed by Oh no it isnt, Oh yes we do followed by Oh no we dont, Oh yes I did followed by Oh no you didnt, I did, I did, I did followed by You didnt, you didnt, you didnt, Did, did, did followed by Didnt, didnt, didnt. Dan Leno as Widow Twankey in Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (1896) A pantomime dame is a traditional role in British and Irish pantomime. Critics bitterly attacked pantomimes, complaining that this foreign entertainment threatened the downfall of Shakespeare and the death of serious theatre. They often have strong personal traits and play a key part in the plot (yes, thats twice now Ive talked about plot in a panto blog!). I wonder why, in progressive 2016, we still like to see men dress in drag for entertainment Is it appropriate, in this age of inclusion, for middle-age women to be ridiculed by blokes in skirts and too much make-up? Pantomime evolves with society and this is what makes it so fun and so popular. 0000001321 00000 n And with an increase in gender-blind casting, it might well mean that when it comes to sexism on stage: Its behind you!. He's single, no children so why? Prince William 'will give ''heartfelt and loving'' speech paying tribute to Charles and Camilla at coronation concert' The Prince of Wales is set to give a speech at the Coronation concert on Sunday Where panto dames have been widely accepted as family-friendly entertainment, drag has historically been, and continues to be, subject to significant discrimination. Voir les partenaires de TheConversation France. 1901), Lexpertise universitaire, lexigence journalistique. Fire the glitter cannons! Famous names from the variety world would take to the stage to sing, dance and deliver topical comedy. And in an age of gender fluidity, should we still be laughing? I cant go to a panto without feeling uncomfortable at the type of laughter that exists, says Sab Samuel, who is also known as drag queen Aida H Dee. Pantomime is surpassed only by Shakespeare in terms of the gender bending casting in its long history. A look into the history of pantomime. Amid the whirling of puns and ever more extravagant outfits, I have increasingly felt that the joke presented to the audience is rooted in damaging stereotypes about gender. The latest pantomimes, like those before them, are peppered with culture-driven jokes and political satire relevant to the current day. Harlequin, in these semi improvised scenes would be in control of the situation. In the 1880s, Leno started playing roles like the Queen in Humpty Dumpty, or Widow Twankey in Aladdin. A rough, uneducated man called John Rich played a key role in the emergence of pantomime. If I knew that, Id be a billionaire, says Clive Rowe, who is taking on the role of Mother Goose at this years panto at the Hackney Empire in London. [CDATA[// >Everyone in North America watching the latest DRUK runway Blue Peter's Peter Duncan launches Panto Online, the UK's first pantomime filmed entirely on location to be watched online by families over Christmas. Pantomime offers us the anarchic excitements of a topsy-turvy world only to give us the assurance of harmony restored. Today we associate pantomimes with recognisable names from soap operas and talent shows taking to the stage for fun and laughter, but where did the tradition begin? It is part of the theatrical tradition of travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. It is also used where characters are encouraging the audience to assist them in finding a particular object on stage. This is certainly true of Samuels experience. Theatre Costumes. There are things we might have said 15, 20 years ago, with all innocence, he says, that we wouldnt say now, that wouldnt be perceived as funny. This adaptability is a core part of the form, he says, reiterating that he hopes everyone feels welcome and included at every panto hes a part of. 0000002885 00000 n And besides, the tradition of the pantomime dame is about much more than just cross-dressing. By focusing less on story, and more on spectacle, pantos are renowned for their ability to hook audiences of all ages - making them a popular way of introducing theatre to children of all ages. The role came about in the early 19th century, developing from the travesti tradition of theatrical cross-dressing. As the Harlequinades became more popular, more theatres wanted to create their version. Her comic patter with the audience cuts across the boundaries between performers and spectators, drawing us into her chaotic world. So how did the Pantomime Dame come into being and why do we continue to be fascinated by this bizarre, eccentric figure? Think of the combined power of television and the internet and you start to understand the theatres reach and influence in the 18th century. After hundreds of frock changes, decades of in-jokes, countless singalongs and not a single identifiable plot, Berwick Kaler is to retire as York Theatre Royals resident panto dame. Email press at warwick dot ac dot uk. Often hungry, usually broke, these characters represent the common people. Commedia was a versatile, popular and influential art form. A music hall celebrity, a standup comic and a champion clog-dancer, Leno was the star of late Victorian pantomime. Browse my selection of funny, flexible, family-friendly pantos today. Goldilocks and the Three Bears is at Richmond theatre until 31 December. Like the commedia's Arlecchino, this Harlequin displayed extraordinary physical agility, and elemental desires for food, drink and sex. At the Customs House in South Shields they pioneered using a sheep who translated the show into British Sign Language. Deputy Head of Department and Course Leader for Perfoming Arts, Anglia Ruskin University. David Garrick, the great 18th century actor-manager, was quick to join these critical blasts against his theatrical rival. Nick Cherryman, an ESRC-funded researcher in Warwick's Department of Sociology, shares their top five things you may not know about panto dames. Hence, bell ringing came along. Pantomime presents a tale of good and evil, where hope triumphs over adversity after danger and virtual despair. Variations can include: Another phrase, chanted most enthusiastically by younger audience members, is the old chestnut its behind you. Find your next pantomime script today, with customisable scripts for productions of all shapes and sizes, written by a professional pantomime director. Buttons comic routines and the Dames glorious absurdity have their theatrical roots in Grimaldis clown. The cleverest song sheets are well-known songs from the year, tongue twisters or songs which take inspiration from their panto title (French songs for Beauty and the Beast etc.) Commedia dellarte toured across Europe, arriving in England several times. Covered by a canopy and bathed in golden light with Windsor Castle as the backdrop, the stage for the Coronation Concert is set to be truly magnificent.