slapstick – Mallaband-Brown

The stage is set. It’s been a few weeks since we started rehearsals but hopefully in February we’ll be putting on a performance of Beauty and the Beast. I don’t have a part, I’m just going to be in the chorus. I am struggling with doing dances, I don’t feel physically up to it. But I’m hoping to help with the scenery, although I’m hoping it won’t be as difficult as it was two years ago when I was a lot healthier.

The panto (pantomime), is a jokey, comedic play where an adventure happens but its funny and mostly for children. There are really ‘punny’ jokes, custard pies in the face, slapstick, kids telling silly jokes and basically mad cap fun. I’m looking forward to a great time next year.

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So what is a pantomime. Its a crazy comedy with characters that have been portrayed on stage for years. Some panto(mime) characters include :

Aladdin, The Genie of the lamp and the genie of the ring, Princess Jasmine, Abanazar, widow Twankey and the Sultan and Sultana in our panto.

Jack in Jack and the beanstalk, the giant, Jack’s mother and the panto cow, usually called Daisy.

Robin Hood and his merry men with Robin, Marion, the sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy, King John, little John, friar tuck, Will Scarlet.

Sleeping beauty and Cinderella are also pantomimes. So basically they are fairy stories or children’s stories that have been adapted for the stage. Various other characters are added. Like the principle boy, who plays the hero but is often played by a girl, or the ugly sisters and widow Twankey who are played by men. A lot of cross dressing in the panto is traditional.

Pantos are played for laughs, modern ones can be quite commercial and include product placement. In our case we are amateur and just have fun.

If you live nearby to Stoke and want to come along let me know.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: slapstick

Panto rehearsal

Have I told you we are doing a panto?