Feature

The story of pantomime

For many families, a visit to the pantomime is a must at this time of year, offering a chance to unwind with quick-witted banter and hilarious antics, as you’re drawn into the magic of the spectacle and its extravagant costumes and largerthan-life characters - as well as joining in with booing the villain and the obligatory ‘it’s behind you’ and ‘oh no it isn’t’! It’s extraordinary to think that people have been enjoying this wonderful tradition for around 300 years, although it has changed a little over the centuries.

The origins of this characteristically British entertainment though, lie in 16th-century Italian street theatre, ‘Commedia dell’Arte’ or comedy of the artists, which included music, dance, acrobatics, comedy, and a cast of stock characters such as the old man Pantalone, the clown Pierrot, and Columbine who was in Dan Leno love with the mischievous servant Arlecchino – or Harlequin as he became known in English. During the 17th century, the actors began to take commedia across Europe, visiting France and then also England, where they performed at the popular English summer fairs. Due to the language barrier though, scenes from the continental shows were mimed rather than spoken, and there was more emphasis on singing and dancing, as well as the comic chases. Harlequin’s character particularly delighted audiences, and by the end of that century some of the commedia characters even began to appear in English comic plays. Theatre became increasingly popular in the 18th century, with people from all walks of life regularly attending the London theatres, and by 1850, theatres were being built in towns across Britain.

The word ‘pantomime’ is derived from the ancient Greek pantomimus, meaning ‘imitator of all’ - a dancer playing multiple roles, and using action not words. It first appeared

Courtesy of Theatre Royal Plymouth

on a poster in England for a 1717 production by John Weaver, and then became associated with his next production including Harlequin and Columbine, so that the name stuck for plays involving these characters. It was John Rich though who produced what is considered to be the first real pantomime in 1721, entitled The Magician; or Harlequin a Director.

An actor and theatre manager, Rich developed the harlequinade, a comic chase telling the adventures of Harlequin and Columbine, melded with acrobatics, music, magical transformations and ‘slapstick’ comedy. Rich played the part of Harlequin and used his magic wand/sword (a wooden ‘slapstick’ with a hinged flap to make a loud slapping noise) to change the stage scenery by touching it, while giving the backstage crew an audible cue. The sound also lent more theatrical effect when the stick was used to slap other actors – hence the term slapstick comedy. Rich went on to introduce animals, serpents, and even flying vehicles to enhance his productions. His harlequinades became so popular that other theatres decided to adopt them, despite warnings from the critics that they would finish serious theatre. The manager of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, David Garrick, initially joined in the criticism but seeing the commercial opportunities offered by pantomime, he decided to put on new pantomime stories with a speaking Harlequin. However, he limited pantomime performances to the Christmas season, aiming to maintain a balance between serious and more frivolous theatre - and the tradition of Christmas pantomimes was sown.

The 1700s had seen a rise in the popularity of folk tales and fairy tales, and then in the early 1800s the stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad were translated into English. Gradually, pantomime stories evolved, and many are still performed today. Jack and the Beanstalk developed from many different

Courtesy of Theatre Royal Plymouth

folk tales going backs hundreds of years, and there was even a reference to the popular Cornish folk tale of Jack the Giant Killer in Shakespeare’s King Lear; the story of Cinderella has also existed for centuries, but became very popular when the French writer, Charles Perrault included it in his collection of fairy tales published in 1697; it is also the only pantomime to retain a transformation scene at the end. While Dick Whittington was based on the life of a real mayor of London who died in 1423.

From 1800, Joseph Grimaldi’s performances of the clown with his mischievous tricks, clever satire and bizarre songs started to edge Harlequin out of the limelight – Grimaldi also introduced cross dressing to create the role of the pantomime dame, although until 1660 men had always played women’s roles as female performers were banned from the stage in Britain. By the Victorian era, pantomime had become a Christmas custom, and gender switching became even more established when women started playing the role of the principal boy, dressed in shorts and tights. At a time when women wore long skirts this was considered risqué, but allowed for a woman playing a male role. Until the Theatres Act of 1843 only theatres with a royal patent could produce spoken drama – after this, pantomimes had freedom to make the most of witty puns, quickfire patter and audience participation. During the 1860s, music hall stars were increasingly cast in pantomimes, and their celebrity status and extrovert characters changed the shape of pantomime, replacing lengthy plots with topical satire and popular songs, as well as attracting new audiences.

Pantomime may appear to be an absurd mix of bizarre characters, curious plots, and tomfoolery, but as you can see, it is a piece of our history which has evolved around the conventions of the times through the innovations of inspired performers and entrepreneurs to please and delight audiences over the years. And if it has managed to do that for this long then it must be getting something right! So, why not participate in some pantomime magic this Christmas.

Harlequin (Commedia dell’Arte)

See What’s On for details of local pantomimes.

Rosemary Best