Mime and Pantomime

Question 1

Originated from

Answer 1

Greek east

Question 2

Mime involved

Answer 2

Actors speaking

Question 3

Pantomime involved

Answer 3

Silent actors

Question 4

Mime

Answer 4

Originated in Greece

Included acrobatics, song and dance, jokes, conjuring

170BCE

Question 5

Subject matter of mime

Answer 5

Sex, parody of town and city life, general buffoonery

Some political, others showed every day life

Question 6

Plots of mimes

Answer 6

Kidnapping, cuckolds and lovers

Question 7

Script for mimes?

Answer 7

Early mimes? No

1st century BCE- yes

Question 8

Decimus Laberius

Answer 8

Knight
Born 106BCE
Scripted mimes

Question 9

Publilius Syrus

Answer 9

Freedman from Syria

Wrote mime

Question 10

Where was mime presented

Answer 10

On its own
Interlude of a play
Part of a public of private form of entertainment
Dinner parties (rich ppl kept their own troupe)

Question 11

Props for mime

Answer 11

No stage
Few props and a curtain
Dogs could appear!

Question 12

Actors for mime

Answer 12

Women could

Question 13

Costume for mime

Answer 13

No special costume
Sometimes multi-coloured jacket
Barefoot
No masks

Question 14

Politics of mime

Answer 14

Reflected political mood
Republic - critical
46BCE - Caesar compels Decimus to act out his own mime

Imperial- no freedom of speech
Mime criticised enemies of the emperor
Laureolus (real bandit leader who was captured crucified)

Question 15

When did panto surface

Answer 15

During tragedy’s decline

Question 16

Describe panto

Answer 16

Form of ballet
All parts played by 1 actor
Accompanied by musician/singer

The only way in which the common people learnt Greek myths

Question 17

Panto happened in

Answer 17

Theatre
Other public places
Private performances

Question 18

Financing panto

Answer 18

Wealthy patrons

Question 19

Panto developed in

Answer 19

Eastern Mediterranean

Introduced to Rome in 22BCE during Augustus’ rule

Question 20

Pylades

Answer 20

Panto guy
From Cicilia (freedman of Augustus)
Founded panto school in his name
Scenes from Greek mythology (tragedy especially) 
Most popular

Question 21

Bathyllus

Answer 21

Panto guy
From Alexandria
Founded panto school in his name
Comic panto

Question 22

Costume for panto

Answer 22

Mask mouth always closed

Question 23

Panto actors

Answer 23

Had extensive training

Low social status
Fame and popularity meant they were closely associated with the imperial family (scandal!)

Seen as sex symbols by both men and women

Question 24

Fans of panto

Answer 24

Pantomania

Fan clubs had rivalries

14&15CE - riots- several soldiers, a centurion and a tribune left dead
So Tiberius ordered all pantos had to take place in the theatre
Unruly spectators could be exiled

Question 25

Nero and panto

Answer 25

Riots in 56CE

banished the pantomimes and some of their supported from Italy

59CE called them back