Changes

==Pantomime plots==

==Pantomime plots==

The vast majority of pantomimes take their story from a repertoir of commonly-used pantomime plots. These may be:

The vast majority of pantomimes take their story from a repertoir of commonly-used pantomime plots. These may be:

* [[Fairy tale]]s, eg ''Cinderella'', ''Puss in Boots'', ''Jack and the Beanstalk''.

* [[Fairy tale]]s, e.g. ''Cinderella'', ''Puss in Boots'', ''Jack and the Beanstalk''.

* English [[folk tale]]s, eg ''[[Dick Whittington]]'', ''[[Robin Hood]]''.

* English [[folk tale]]s, e.g. ''[[Dick Whittington]]'', ''[[Robin Hood]]''.

* More recent well-known stories, eg ''[[Peter Pan]]''.

* More recent well-known stories, e.g. ''[[Peter Pan]]''.

It is less common but not unknown for pantomime productions to adapt a story that is not traditionally used as a pantomime. For example, the Cambridge Footlights theater troupe has recently staged pantomime adaptations of ''[[Spartacus]]'' and ''Faust''.<ref>[http://footlights.org/pantomime.html Cambridge Footlights Pantomime]</ref> Even in these instances, the story chosen must be one that will be familiar to audiences.

It is less common but not unknown for pantomime productions to adapt a story that is not traditionally used as a pantomime. For example, the Cambridge Footlights theater troupe has recently staged pantomime adaptations of ''[[Spartacus]]'' and ''Faust''.<ref>[http://footlights.org/pantomime.html Cambridge Footlights Pantomime]</ref> Even in these instances, the story chosen must be one that will be familiar to audiences.

==Characters==

==Characters==

All pantomimes feature all or most of the following stylized characters:

All pantomimes feature all or most of the following stylized characters:

*The '''[[protagonist]]''' is usually a young man (though there are exceptions, eg ''Cinderella''), good-hearted but poor, who is caught up in extraordinary or magical events.

*The '''[[protagonist]]''' is usually a young man (though there are exceptions, e.g. ''Cinderella''), good-hearted but poor, who is caught up in extraordinary or magical events.

*The '''[[villain]]''' must be as evil as possible in every way, often doing evil for its own sake, mistreating his (or her) own henchmen, taunting the audience, and laughing at the sufferings and misfortunes of others. However, while the villain always has an extremely [[pride|elevated opinion]] of himself, he is often somewhat incompetent, and will inevitably be outwitted by the hero at the end.

*The '''[[villain]]''' must be as evil as possible in every way, often doing evil for its own sake, mistreating his (or her) own henchmen, taunting the audience, and laughing at the sufferings and misfortunes of others. However, while the villain always has an extremely [[pride|elevated opinion]] of himself, he is often somewhat incompetent, and will inevitably be outwitted by the hero at the end.

*The protagonist always has a '''love interest''' who is pure and good-hearted, and may be the daughter of the villain. In some plays, such as ''Cinderella'', both protagonist and love interest are traditionally played by women, but this is accepted by audiences who are aware of the stylized conventions of the genre.

*The protagonist always has a '''love interest''' who is pure and good-hearted, and may be the daughter of the villain. In some plays, such as ''Cinderella'', both protagonist and love interest are traditionally played by women, but this is accepted by audiences who are aware of the stylized conventions of the genre.

===Come quickly!===

===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.

In most pantomimes, one of the light-relief characters (e.g. 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!===

===Aaaaaah!===

==Origins==

==Origins==

As a traditional form of theater, pantomime's conventions are not formalized, but have grown up organically over hundreds of years by drawing on various different influences. Two of the most recognizeable are [[Italian]] [[Commedia dell'arte]], a stylized theater form that provides the templates for many of the stock characters (the word 'pantomime' comes from Pantalone, one such character<ref>[http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/commedia_dell_arte_001.html The Commedia dell'Arte]</ref>); and English [[music hall]], which supplies much of the bawdy humor and audience participation.

As a traditional form of theater, pantomime's conventions are not formalized, but have grown up organically over hundreds of years by drawing on various different influences. Two of the most recognizable are [[Italian]] [[Commedia dell'arte]], a stylized theater form that provides the templates for many of the stock characters (the word 'pantomime' comes from Pantalone, one such character<ref>[http://www.theatrehistory.com/italian/commedia_dell_arte_001.html The Commedia dell'Arte]</ref>); and English [[music hall]], which supplies much of the bawdy humor and audience participation.

On a more general level, the simplified conflict between [[good and evil]] could be traced back to [[medieval]] [[morality play]]s (which also used to be performed at major festivals), while the portrayal of grotesque stereotypes and undermining of dignified or would-be dignified figures have a certain kinship with the works of ancient [[Greek]] playwrights such as [[Aristophanes]] and their successors.

On a more general level, the simplified conflict between [[good and evil]] could be traced back to [[medieval]] [[morality play]]s (which also used to be performed at major festivals), while the portrayal of grotesque stereotypes and undermining of dignified or would-be dignified figures have a certain kinship with the works of ancient [[Greek]] playwrights such as [[Aristophanes]] and their successors.

==Present day==

==Present day==

Although pantomime is a traditional theater form, it has not become '[[fossil]]ized', and adapts to suit the needs of modern audiences. Most obviously, professional pantomimes recruit local and national [[celebrities]] to help pull in crowds. These are often [[soap opera]] actors, singers, or [[television]] and [[radio]] personalities. The stylised and exaggerated conventions of pantomime do not require much aptitude for naturalistic acting, so personalities from the worlds of [[sport]] (eg the [[boxing|boxer]] [[Frank Bruno]]), music and television have often been able to more than compensate for a lack of formal acting experience with a mixture of enthusiasm and the public's existing goodwill. It is not uncommon for every major part in a top-level pantomime production to be played by a [[synecdoche|famous face]]. A common exception is the dame: this role is so important and specialised that few famous people are able to play it successfully, although some well-known actors such as [[Christopher Biggins]] specialise in playing dames at Christmas time.

Although pantomime is a traditional theater form, it has not become '[[fossil]]ized', and adapts to suit the needs of modern audiences. Most obviously, professional pantomimes recruit local and national [[celebrities]] to help pull in crowds. These are often [[soap opera]] actors, singers, or [[television]] and [[radio]] personalities. The stylised and exaggerated conventions of pantomime do not require much aptitude for naturalistic acting, so personalities from the worlds of [[sport]] (e.g. the [[boxing|boxer]] [[Frank Bruno]]), music and television have often been able to more than compensate for a lack of formal acting experience with a mixture of enthusiasm and the public's existing goodwill. It is not uncommon for every major part in a top-level pantomime production to be played by a [[synecdoche|famous face]]. A common exception is the dame: this role is so important and specialised that few famous people are able to play it successfully, although some well-known actors such as [[Christopher Biggins]] specialise in playing dames at Christmas time.

Sometimes people who have been very famous, or 'serious' actors, see pantomime as a humbling sign of a career on the wane, but many others enjoy the work for its own sake - Sir [[Ian McKellen]] is a good example of an actor who chose to take part in pantomime when he had never been more sought-after in serious [[film]] and theater.

Sometimes people who have been very famous, or 'serious' actors, see pantomime as a humbling sign of a career on the wane, but many others enjoy the work for its own sake - Sir [[Ian McKellen]] is a good example of an actor who chose to take part in pantomime when he had never been more sought-after in serious [[film]] and theater.