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the main audience participation routines
*The '''good fairy''' or fairy godmother embodies all that is righteous and watches over the hero. She often plays little part in the action, instead greeting the audience at the beginning of the performance and acting as a kind of [[narrator]] between scenes. The exception is that she sometimes uses her magical powers to rescue the hero just when it looks like all hope has been lost - a kind of ''[[deus ex machina]]'' device.
*The '''good fairy''' or fairy godmother embodies all that is righteous and watches over the hero. She often plays little part in the action, instead greeting the audience at the beginning of the performance and acting as a kind of [[narrator]] between scenes. The exception is that she sometimes uses her magical powers to rescue the hero just when it looks like all hope has been lost - a kind of ''[[deus ex machina]]'' device.
*The '''Dame''': The most recognizable element of a pantomime, the dame is a caricature of an unattractive and slow-witted yet likeable and warm-hearted older woman. She is often the mother of the protagonist, and is always played by a man. The dame's costume is very colourful and elaborate, usually involving multiple layers of petticoats and thick make-up. The dame is usually not involved in the main plot, instead providing light relief, bantering with the audience and pursuing relations with all kinds of unsuitable men. Much of the dame character's humor stems from her efforts to maintain appearances of ladylike dignity despite being naturally graceless and coarse, and while getting involved in undignified and often ludicrous situations.
*The '''Dame''': The most recognizable element of a pantomime, the dame is a caricature of an unattractive and slow-witted yet likeable and warm-hearted older woman. She is often the mother of the protagonist, and is always played by a man. The dame's costume is very colourful and elaborate, usually involving multiple layers of petticoats and thick make-up. The dame is usually not involved in the main plot, instead providing light relief, bantering with the audience and pursuing relations with all kinds of unsuitable men. Much of the dame character's humor stems from her efforts to maintain appearances of ladylike dignity despite being naturally graceless and coarse, and while getting involved in undignified and often ludicrous situations.
==Audience participation==
Key to the appeal of a pantomime is the way the characters interact with and address the audience. A great deal of banter and general conversation takes place without the performance, including but not limited to the four 'classic' pantomime conventions outlined below.
===Oh, no, it isn't!===
This routine appears several times in every pantomime. A character makes an assertion, for example "I'm the most intelligent woman in the world!" and then turns expectantly to the audience, who then loudly voice their disagreement by shouting (in this example) "Oh, no, you're not!". The character then reasserts "Oh, yes, I am!" and the argument continues in this way until the actor tires of it or is interrupted by some other character or event.
Audiences take particular delight in humiliating the villain in this way. This is especially effective if the routine has previously been done by the dame or another 'base' character: by giving the same treatment to the villain, his illusions of grandeur can be comprehensively undermined and derided.
===He's behind you!===
At some point in the play, a villainous character will sneak onto the [[stage]] without the hero or another well-liked character noticing. The audience will then attempt to warn their favorite by shouting "He's behind you!", at which point the hero will turn round the wrong way and fail to see the villain. The routine continues in this way, with the audience attempting to describe the villain's whereabouts and the hero looking everywhere but the right place. Skilled pantomime [[actor]]s are able to continue the charade for some time, often ending it by bumping into each other.
===Come quickly!===
In most pantomimes, one of the light-relief characters (eg the buffoon) will place a precious object (at least to them - it is often laughably worthless) at the side of the stage and ask the audience to look after it for them. Later on, a villainous character will see the object and attempt to [[theft|steal]] it, prompting the audience to loudly summon its owner. If the owner then fails to see the would-be thief, this can lead into the 'he's behind you' routine described above.
===Aaaaaah!===
Characters who are down on their [[luck]] or in unhappy situations often angle for the audience to comfort them with a sympathetic 'Aaaaaah!'. For example, the buffoon's unrequited [[love]] for the main female character will often elicit this response.
==External links==
==External links==