ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
IT ’ S PANTO SEASON ( Oh yes it is !)
PANTOMIMES AND CHRISTMAS GO TOGETHER LIKE HALLOWEEN AND PUMPKINS , LIKE EASTER AND EGGS , LIKE BANK HOLIDAYS AND RAIN . CHRISTMAS WOULDN ’ T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE ANTICIPATION OF THE PANTOMIME – WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO GO BEFORE THE FESTIVE DAY ITSELF AND USE THE PANTO AS A GREAT WAY TO KICK OF THE CELEBRATIONS , OR YOU GO AT THE END , WITH THE MEN IN DRESSES , THE GIRLS DRESSED AS BOYS AND THE SILLY SHENANIGANS SIGNALLING THAT IT ’ S TIME TO RETURN TO NORMAL AFTER THIS ONE LAST RIDICULOUS AND JOYOUS FAMILY DAY OUT , IT DOESN ’ T MATTER . THE POINT IS , YOU GO . OF COURSE YOU DO . IT ’ S TRADITION .
But that tradition didn ’ t start in Britain , even though the panto is perhaps the most eccentrically British thing , one that people from other countries have trouble understanding sometimes . And why not ? When you think about it , none of it makes any sense , and when you try to explain it , you realise what a load of nonsense it all is . Wonderful nonsense , but nonsense nonetheless .
No , the pantomime began life in in Italy in the 16th century . It was street theatre , known as the Commedia dell ’ arte , and it had all the elements that we know and love today , in some form or other . Crossdressing , slightly risqué humour , slapstick comedy , it was all part of the act . And audience participation wasn ’ t just expected – it was encouraged , just like the pantos of today .
We can thank producer and director John Rich for bringing the pantomime to the British Isles . He spotted it occurring in Italy and thought he could make some money out of it . A few character changes here , a bit of magic there , and the basic form of the pantomime as we know it today was born . This all happened in the early 1600s , so the good old panto could well be our longest running Christmas tradition .
As with everything Christmas , it was the Victorians who really made it into something special . As staid and respectable as they pretended to be , those Victorians loved a bit of ( permitted ) naughtiness in their entertainment , and the pantomime fitted the bill . Where else would a Victorian gentleman see a lady ’ s ankle ( and leg ) but at the pantomime ? Where else could rude jokes be made in such good spirits that wouldn ’ t offend anyone present ? Where else could an audience shout and stamp their feet and sing along ?
Today the annual outing to the pantomime is just as much something to look forward to as it always was , especially in Kent where talent abounds . It ’ s the ideal way to introduce young children to the theatre , giving them a magical experience that they will never forget .
37