Pantomime season is almost upon us Published Dec. 4, 2007 By Suzanne Harper 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- If you haven't as yet attended a British pantomime, make it your ambition before you leave these shores. Christmas pantos are now being advertised countrywide. Whatever age you are, an afternoon or evening at the panto is an extraordinary experience. If you don't go accompanied by children, it is a good idea to take your "inner child" along with you, as well as a willingness to enter into the spirit of the occasion. Stephen Fry, a well-known British writer, actor and comedian, has said of the panto, "I've yet to find any gizmo from the digital age that can match pantomime for genuine interactivity." Fry has written a new version of Cinderella for this year's Christmas pantomime at London's Old Vic theatre. This is the third consecutive year of Christmas pantomimes at the theatre, run by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey. Cinderella follows The Old Vic's hit production of Aladdin, which starred Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf from the film version of The Lord of the Rings) as Widow Twankey. http://www.oldvictheatre.com/ December through January is the British pantomime season. Pantos are a Christmas tradition which may need some explanation so that you can go along and get the best out of the performance and not be totally confused by what you see before you. · Pantomime is not mime - the actors do actually talk to each other. The plays are based on either a fairy tale or nursery rhyme, such as Cinderella or Jack and the Beanstalk. · The origins date back to the Middle Ages, taking onboard the traditions of the Italian Commedia Dell Arte, the Italian Night Scenes and the British Music Hall to produce an intrinsic art form that has constantly adapted to survive. It's because of this ability to evolve and include topical references to modern trends that keeps the panto so popular. This often means the same panto will vary from location to location making each performance truly unique. · A woman plays the lead male role (principal boy) and a man plays the lead female role (the dame). Another tradition is the pantomime horse - one person has the head and another at the rear end. Occasionally the horse is replaced by a cow and I once saw a pantomime camel! · There is active audience participation in the form of singing, shouting and generally feeling part of the show by interacting with the characters on stage. Usually there will be a silly song (which the audience is also expected to join in with - words are provided on a scroll suspended from the ceiling). One of the characters is scripted as a "baddie" and, every time he or she appears on the stage, the children in the audience are encouraged to boo and hiss - a role taken very seriously by the young audience. He or she will carry on a contradictory dialogue with the other actors, and the audience is encouraged to reply with statements such as,"Oh no it isn't!" or, "Oh yes it is!" Similarly, at some stage, one of the good characters will have some form of menacing animal or character lurking just out of their field of vision and it is traditional to yell until you are hoarse, "It's behind you!" Pantos are performed both in the regional theatres, where they are big, glitzy productions with the lead characters often being played by television and radio personalities, down to the local productions which are by no means inferior in their entertainment value. Even small villages and towns may put on a local panto, manned totally by amateur actors and volunteers. Evidently, some Americans have already fallen under the timeless spell of the Pantomime. This panto season, legendary Hollywood actor, Mickey Rooney, is to make his pantomime debut at a theatre on Wearside, in the North of England. The 86-year-old veteran performer will play Baron Hardup in the Sunderland Empire's production of Cinderella. http://www.sunderlandempire.org.uk/index.asp?VenueID=111 I hope you can make the time to go along to one of the many productions taking place this year. It is always good to go with children to soak up the true atmosphere and maybe this will provide an ideal opportunity to get together with your British neighbours and enjoy a show together. Go in with an open mind, and I'm sure you will come out with a smile on your face! Here is some information on just a few of the pantomimes in our region over the festive season: · Cinderella and the Glass Slipper Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Dec. 7 until Jan. 20 http://www.theatreroyal.org/PEO/site/home/ · Cinderella Christmas Panto Ipswich Regent Theatre, Dec. 14 until Jan. 16 https://online.ipswich.gov.uk/PEO/integration/default.asp · Dick Whittington Theatre Royal, Norwich, Dec. 19 until Jan. 20 http://www.theatre-royal-norwich.co.uk/site.php?action=display_show&showID=456 · Aladdin Cambridge Arts Theatre, Dec. 8 until Jan. 14 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com · Sleeping Beauty Princess Theatre, Hunstanton, Dec. 6 until Jan. 2 www.princesstheatrehunstanton.co.uk