Pantomime
is a traditional Christmas and New Year entertainment unique and peculiar to
the British theatre.
Pantomime origins can be traced back to the 16th and 17th century Italian
improvised comic drama called the Commedia Dell'arte.
Punch and Judy, Harlequinade and the French tradition of mime also have their origins
in the commedia Dell'arte.
With its roots deep in the harlequin tradition of the 18th century combined
with the music hall burlesque of the 19th forged what we know today as
pantomime where an actress always plays the part of principal boy and an actor
always plays the dame.
The Pantomimes used traditional fairy tales like Mother Goose Puss in Boots,
Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Red Riding Hood in which they wove into the
story political satire, parodies of popular figures and slapstick thus providing
something for everyone.
The great thing about Panto is that it is the one part of British culture which
refuses to embrace Political Correctness, thank god.
By the end of every Panto virtue is rewarded, love conquers all, good defeats
evil and everyone lives happily ever after.
