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'''Pantomime''' (or 'panto' for short) is a traditional form of [[theater]] that is popular in the [[United Kingdom]] at [[Christmas]] time. All pantomimes share certain features, including a matronly 'dame' character played by a man in [[cross-dressing|drag]], an exaggeratedly evil but incompetent [[villain]], a final [[wedding]] scene, audience participation and earthy [[humor]]. Most pantomimes use a traditional plot (often a [[fairy tale]]), such as ''[[Cinderella]]'', ''[[Dick Whittington]]'' or ''[[Aladdin]]'', but almost any well-known story can be adapted into a recognisable pantomime by incorporating the characteristic features of the form.
'''Pantomime''' (or 'panto' for short) is a traditional form of [[theater]] that is popular in the [[United Kingdom]] at [[Christmas]] time. All pantomimes share certain features, including a matronly 'dame' character played by a man in [[cross-dressing|drag]], an exaggeratedly evil but incompetent [[villain]], a final [[wedding]] scene, audience participation and earthy [[humor]]. Most pantomimes use a traditional plot (often a [[fairy tale]]), such as ''[[Cinderella]]'', ''[[Dick Whittington]]'' or ''[[Aladdin]]'', but almost any well-known story can be adapted into a recognisable pantomime by incorporating the characteristic features of the form.
==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 '''[[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.
*There is always a '''buffoon''' to provide comic relief. He is a good-hearted simpleton, and often displays unrequited love for the protagonist's love interest (although this does not lead to conflict, as he is too shy to act on his impulses.
*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 often involved in most of the humor of the performance, which stems from her efforts to maintain appearances of ladylike dignity while getting involved in undignified situations, and often in contrast to her own bawdy behavior.
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