British Billy goes to the pantomime

  • Published
  • By British Billy
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  As holiday traditions go, there is little that makes me feel more festive than a good old traditional pantomime, or 'panto'. As the chill winds ruffle my whiskers and the frost nips my nose, panto brings warmth, laughter and fun to the winter season.

A good family pantomime can generally be found at a theatre in most towns and cities of the U.K., and we are blessed in this region with some of the finest. Pantomimes are designed to appeal to young and old alike, although you will have more fun if you let your inhibitions go and release your inner child (or in my case, inner kitten), as there is always an opportunity to boo the baddies, cheer the goodies and join in with the merriment and mayhem that is panto.

December through January is the British pantomime season. To get the best out of the performance and not be totally perplexed, there are a few things I should warn you about.

In spite of the name, pantomime has nothing to do with 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 of pantomime date back to the Middle Ages, but it is constantly evolving and includes topical references to modern trends, keeping the extravaganza that is panto ever popular. This often means the same pantomime will vary from location to location making each performance truly unique.

It is a long-standing panto tradition that a woman plays the lead male role (principal boy) and a man plays the lead female role (the dame). The principal boy (female) will usually fall in love and win the hand in marriage of a beautiful young princess or heroine (also female). This is all considered perfectly normal.

Another tradition is the pantomime horse - one person has the head and another person 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 audience is encouraged to boo and hiss. 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!" It must all sound a bit odd to you, but believe me, once you get into panto mood, you will be joining in with the best of them.

Of course, my favourite pantomimes are those featuring cats. The story of Dick Whittington, the first Lord Mayor of London, and his remarkable talking cat is a family favourite, as is also the fairy tale of Puss in Boots. Whatever the theme of the panto, however, the important thing is that you go and experience it for yourself. I promise you, paw on heart, it will be unforgettable.