European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Holiday Pantos bizarre abundant and very British by Matt Wolf the associated press men play women women play men the audience screams rehearsed replies and i lie dialogue is Lav shakespearean Quot now is the Winter of our discontent and it s All my Lull a a theatrical free for All 1 sort of hut also Britain s most enduring dramatic entertainment. It s the annual Holiday season pantomime us much .1 Pari of Britain As big Ben pubs and double Decker buses. Quot it is our National tiling Quot said John Morley author of More than 200 pantomimes. Quot american s got music als and Italy s got the opera. But the reason Pantos pack them in is Bec Ause no other nation c an make head or Tail of that s putting it mildly. Outsiders May Leel they be strayed into some Odd ritual. Quot i once took Lilaine Stritch to set Jack a the beanstalk Quot Morley recalled of the Veteran Broadway performer Quot and she said to me Midway through Ohn please1 forgive me. 1 need a triple1 Vodka Quot Quot you either love1 them and some Amezie ans Bee ome c of plemely besotted or not. I hey arc1 so unbelievably and so available t Heater 1 Ondon alone1 is uttering more1 than so Pantos this season from Snow in Sifein suburban Redhill to let a k and the beanstalk. Starring Singer cum game show Host cilia Blue k on the1 West i and. Around the1 c oct try stars on View range1 from onetime teeny bopper David Essex who has the1 title1 role in the a hot Nuttin its of Robinson re seat the1 Alhambra i Heater in Brud Loid in Northern i a Lunel to amt Rie a s own or. 1 appearing in Uldin 111 i Liverpool Quot i gel to play the genu1 and have Tun with Aladdin Quot tht1 by jewelled or i Roar d on to Antish television talk slow does4ie know what Pantos urn i Lis Prince charming greets Quot his Quot Friend Dandini during a Peculiar Panto version of Cinderella. British tourist authority pantomime performers past and present Singer and to Host cilia Black in a 1980 file photo Bifi Tish heavyweight Boxer Frank Bruno and or. To this year s big attraction in Aladdin. Producer Paul Gregg was dubious in probably does t even understand what we re talking the Rule s Are simple enough. While Panto Lorie s Are c Hildrene favourites a a Mother Goose Cinderella babes in the Wood and the like a the productions themselves de Pend on certain 1 Onvey i Lions. Cross dressing for one1 the so called Quot Prine pal Hoy Quot is usually played by a fall and Leggy woman Ewen As the1 role of Quot the dame1&Quot limbs to go to an older flamboyant Man. I talking line k to the1 stage1, Tor another unlike1 most theatre r ice hiring live audit Nee to he1 Sii emt .1 Panto Public gets to Che c t the1 goodies and h inn llu1 baddies. Various remarks elicit Well rely sired replies. Quot like s it is Quot i com the stage1 inevitably i Elswith Quot of no it s not Troin the1 auditorium. In Momi its of peril the1 i Io-heroine1 is urge d to Quot i 00k behind you Quot popular songs be Otten me of rotated into the1 a tic i. Along w Atli thudding Vinnue Nelo i lie1 dec lec lie nature1 of the Panto lies at the1 heart of its Appi Al. Quot i he v a t1 got every tiling 111 them hut the Kitchen sink melodrama and singing and comedy Quot Ray Cooney the1 actor and Star of the Long running comedy run for your wife said from his dressing room at the Duchess theater. Plus he said they re a great Way for e Hilemn to first get Hooke d on theater. Roy t Lucid a British comic actor who Lias written one of this year s Pantos and is starring in another sail Quot its the1 one time of the year you play to moms dads grand Monis he kids at the same time kids coming Tor the first time look ill grand mom and Granddad As it the y to raving mad Anil live minute s later they re into it Hilling their mums and dads and tilling them to Jinn in Quot kids love1 a live1 show anyway and ii v Elc m i get Many Chain 10 w hero Lime actually Parl ii 1 hitters like Pantos Bis Ause tie y 10 guat Anteh d Money spin Mieirs. In an Industry in which h lailuic1 is the1 Norm fill Perevit of Pantos make1 a profit though 1 he \ can c Ost up to sift million to pro Luc e. At 1 ording to t Gregg. E ban Man and managing dins Tor of Apollo i Imhofe prod 111 e t Paul f Lliott Stid to company e and b productions makes half its annual income from its six to eight week Panto seasons. The genre has its roots in italian Commedia Deli arte and the French Harlo it Sinad 1 As Well As the English music Hall. Pantomimes were introduced to Britain in the Early i 700s. The1 Cross Cli Essing element arose in the mid both Century lol loved in the 1 wills by the in employ rent of various pop stars looking Lor christmastime work. Be 11 performed during Christmas and the summer they now happen in the Winter Only drawing Tri Ely on sports figures Cricket player Ian Botham and Boxer Frank Bruno among them and television personalities to pull Ltd it Vive is. Quot Panto pro Elue ears have1 Hail to bin ome1 very it creative Quot said Gugg Quot you always look at what is really Mil hot on to. Panto has to be the most adaptable Subjict in the pantomimes die being presented in several British ones including Birmingham Bury is Edmund a Cambridge Cheltenham Chipping North Colchester London. Northampton. Oxford Reading Sudbury and Woodbridge most will be ending Between Jan 18 and 25 a Hough some will continue into february24 stripes Magazine january i a
