Christmas Pantomime

Men in dresses. Slapstick comedy. Show tunes. Moonwalking and break-dancing. Audience participation. Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things.

Saw my first South African Christmas Pantomime last night. Aladdin at the Jobug Theater. More accurately, I saw (not my first) British Christmas Pantomime in South Africa. Another example of  British influence in South Africa.

Pantomimes have been a British tradition since ... like forever. The first stage version of Aladdin was seen in London's Covent Garden in 1788. This was followed by a comedy musical version of the tale in 1813. The South African version was a variation of the original British stage version.





The setting for this Aladdin was Saudi Arabia China! When the Pantomime premiered in London in 1813, people in Britain were fascinated by China and the Orient. Willow pattern plates were introduced and ships such as the clipper Cutty Sark were doing a brisk trade importing tea and other merchandise. As a result, the story of Aladdin developed into a far more Chinese tale than the original and has remained that way ever since.

The first thing you notice are the children and families. Pantomimes are a family tradition at the holidays. The acting is large and the action is fast-paced. No chance for boredom or fidgeting with a Panto. One of the characters throws out candy for the kiddies as part of the story and balloons drop from the ceiling at the end.

Secondly, audience participation is encouraged and expected. We did the wave, were instructed on the proper way to boo the villain, and for the finale, the audience was divided into two groups. We were given the words to a song along with corresponding hand and feet gestures (stomping, clapping and high-fiving) and we competed for "most enthusiastic" (loud).



But Pantomimes are not just for children. Streaming over their little heads were lots of jokes about politics and current affairs, scandals, sexual innuendo and actual cursing. There was something for everyone.

Part Bollywood, part Gilbert and Sullivan, part Las Vegas floor show, the story in a Panto is advanced by a series of popular songs a la Mama Mia. No original score Tony Award for a Pantomime.

actors signing autographs in the lobby

There is usually a guest celebrity performing in the Christmas Pantomime. It is like an honor. I saw Henry Winkler play Captain Hook in a London Panto many years ago. (Peter Pan is another Pantomime favorite.) Makes perfect sense. PS You can see him reprise the role in Lost Boy playing right now on the London stage if you are there for Christmas.

Our celebrity for Aladdin was Jeremy Mansfield, the most acclaimed and award-winning radio personality in the country. He played the villain as the celebrities usually do. He was bad to the bone ... and claustrophobic.

The Panto formula reminded me of the creative philosophy of Walt Disney. I saw a display on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco a couple of years ago. When asked why he included such scary images in his features for children, Walt said he did not make "children's movies." He made movies for "the child that exists" in all of us, adults included.

That Disney spirit lives on in the Pantomime. A good time was had by all!