part a history of pantomime

Question 1

the history of pantomime ……..

Answer 1

is considered complex and difficult to trace

Question 2

it is widely regarded that…

Answer 2

modern day pantomime has its origins in Commedia Dell’Arte

Question 3

Commedia Dell’arte was a classic Italian theatrical form that was…

Answer 3

extremely popular from the 1500s to the 1700s

Question 4

According to an article from…

Answer 4

the Victoria and Albert museum

Question 5

it was a form of theatre which used…

Answer 5

dance, music, tumbling, acrobatics and featured a cast of mischievous stock characters

Question 6

Commedia Dell’Arte has had…

Answer 6

an impactful influence on many modern day theatre practices, such as pantomime

Question 7

A key element of Commedia Dell’Arte was…

Answer 7

the utilization of the ensemble to further the story and enhance the viewing experience

Question 8

Commedia Dell’Arte began to see it’s unfortunate decline…

Answer 8

towards the beginning of the 18th century

Question 9

The decline was the result of…

Answer 9

many factors

Question 10

Often, the witty dialogue of the performance was lost on audiences as…

Answer 10

they could not understand the Italian dialect

Question 11

Once Commedia Dell’Arte became reliant on physical humour,

Answer 11

it began to lose its topical element and ceased to be relevant

Question 12

Fortunately, many elements of Commedia Dell’Arte have survived,

Answer 12

and are present in British pantomime

Question 13

By the 1700s,

Answer 13

Commedia Dell’Arte characters had made their way to the London stage (slide change)

Question 14

Early pantomimes were mainly comprised of mime and music…

Answer 14

and the tales were often classic stories and fairytales.

Question 15

For a long time, theatre licensing had restricted…

Answer 15

the use of spoken word in performances.

Question 16

However, Victoria and Albert museum states that in 1843 this was lifted and

Answer 16

pantomime began to incorporate the use of dialogue comedy and audience participation.

Question 17

By the late 1800s, pantomime was becoming increasingly popular and the most extravagant productions

Answer 17

could be hours long and included slapstick comedy, incredible costumes and casts of hundreds. (slide change)

Question 18

Nowadays, the shows are predominantly targeted towards children and…

Answer 18

are still mostly based on fairy tales and folk legends.

Question 19

According to pantomime Dame and historian Nigel Ellacott,

Answer 19

the most popular stories to perform are “Cinderella”, “Snow White”, and Aladdin.

Question 20

Arguably, the success of pantomime is due to its ability to adapt with its topical humour,

Answer 20

while still managing to keep classic elements that the audience know and love.

Question 21

What Drives the Energy of the Pantomime?

Answer 21

Many would argue that the energy of any pantomime comes from the

Question 22

fierce rivalry between the hero and the villain.

Answer 22

This dynamic fuels the story and

Question 23

captivates the audience.

Answer 23

Yet, the pantomime villain isn’t just any antagonist;

Question 24

the villain is uniquely crafted with a distinct style that

Answer 24

combines exaggerated movement and sound to embody their role as the ultimate baddie.

Question 25

The pantomime villain stands out through two defining aspects:

Answer 25

movement and sound.

Question 26

These elements work together to create a character that is

Answer 26

as menacing as they are entertaining.

Question 27

Classic pantomime villains often make their dramatic entrance from stage left,

Answer 27

a tradition rooted in ancient theatre.

Question 28

Historically, stage right symbolized heaven, while stage left represented hell—

Answer 28

a fitting origin for the villain’s first appearance.

Question 29

The villain’s movements need to be bold and commanding,

Answer 29

often focused on the use of their cape.

Question 30

Dramatic Swishes: A wide, sweeping motion of the cape not only dominates the stage

Answer 30

but also draws the audience’s attention to the villain’s imposing presence.

Question 31

Concealment: Using the cape to cover the lower half of their face evokes an air of mystery and deceit,

Answer 31

reinforcing the character’s sneaky, power-hungry persona.

Question 32

Through these movements,

Answer 32

the villain asserts their dominance and conveys their evil nature without needing to say a word.

Question 33

Sound is just as crucial in

Answer 33

bringing the pantomime villain to life.

Question 34

Their signature laugh—an over-the-top, exaggerated cackle

Answer 34

is a trademark of their character.

Question 35

This laugh is theatrical,

Answer 35

designed to provoke the audience.

Question 36

Equally important is the

Answer 36

villain’s interaction with the audience.

Question 37

They actively invite boos and hisses,

Answer 37

using the audience’s reaction to fuel their performance.

Question 38

this exchange not only establishes the villain’s role as the antagonist but

Answer 38

also makes them a beloved interactive part of the pantomime experience.

Question 39

By combining these elements of movement and sound,

Answer 39

the pantomime villain becomes an iconic character,

Question 40

embodying the energy and spirit

Answer 40

that drives the entire performance.