39,327
edits
Pantomime: Difference between revisions
m
Mass update links
m (Mass update links) |
m (Mass update links) |
||
Line 18:
Pantos are traditionally [[Theatrical Productions]], but [http://www.its-behind-you.com/tvpanto.html quite a few] have been recorded for [[Live Action Television]], such as [[The ITV Panto]].
Not to be confused with miming things (as in [[Enemy Mime]] or [[Mime
----
=== Tropes of the Panto: ===
Line 38:
* '''The [[Pantomime Animal]]''', usually a four-legged creature such as a horse or a cow played by two actors in an animal costume.
* '''The Harlequinade''': A slapstick intermezzo featuring characters from the [[Commedia Dell'Arte|commedia dell'arte]]. Nowadays, it's usually replaced with some [[Scooby Doo]] slapstick with
* '''[[Shout
** Or they'll use material from other notable comedy acts, preferrably older for the adults to recognise and the kids to enjoy. Such as [[Morecambe and Wise]]'s version of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HgFLJLY-2o "I'm Wishing"] for any Snow White shows.
** Also, expect a '''''lot''''' of [[Actor Allusion|Actor Allusions]]
Line 44:
** Sadly, this tradition is being phased out in many places because of [[Political Correctness Gone Mad]]. Some shows will have a variation e.g. in ''Aladdin'' where Widow Twankey might throw comically oversized laundry into the audience instead.
* '''Big production''' - even the smallest amateur company will pull out all the stops for their pantomime. [[Captain Obvious|This is not a genre concerned with either realism or artistic minimalism]]. Sets are large and elaborate, the dame will usually have the most magnificent over-the-top dress (and change it every couple of scenes) and there is often a scene involving gunge, foam or other "messy" fun. ''Aladdin'' often features a scene in the Chinese laundry run by Widow Twanky, providing an excuse for filling the stage with suds. Or characters will randomly decide to do some baking, resulting in flour being thrown.
* '''[[Hey, It's That Guy!|Guest stars]]''' - a <s>more recent</s> [[Older Than You Think|trope dating back to]] [[Victorian Britain|the late 19th Century in the UK]], whereby if more than one major panto is running in a town, they will often compete for custom by playing one-upmanship with the [[Hey, It's That Guy!|quality of the cast]]. Once the realm of respected actors (and [[The Sooty Show|Sooty]]), this particular aspect took a bashing during [[The Eighties]] and [[The Nineties]] when [[C List Fodder|soap actors, Wolf from Gladiators, reality TV stars and Frank Bruno]] all decided to get in on the act; fortunately, most theatres seem to be a little more discerning nowadays, but the occasional [[Big Brother]] contestant still slips through the cracks. This can be very lucrative work, which is why Australian soap actors decamp en masse to England in time for the season. Julian Clary, Christopher Biggins, [[Brian Blessed]] and John Barrowman are guaranteed to be in panto every single year. We've even taken the liberty of getting a few actors from across the pond, including [[Happy Days|Henry Winkler]], [[The A-Team (TV)|Dirk Benedict]] and [[David Hasselhoff]]. Yes, really.
** A more recent variant is the casting of an actor with [[Shakespearian Actors|impeccable dramatic credentials]] (such as Sir [[Ian McKellen]]) as a Dame or another minor character.
** In some productions, the guest stars can turn into the [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad]], but [[Justified Trope|only if they have the skill necessary to hold the audience's attention]].
Line 57:
[[Category:Show Genres]]
[[Category:Pantomime]]
| |||