ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø

As a genre, pantomime has its origins in Roman mime and is influenced by traditional Commedia dell’arte. The early English pantomimes were known as harlequinades and featured a clown, the pantaloon, eloping lovers, and the emergence of what we would now identify as slapstick. The modern pantomime developed toward the end of the nineteenth century and relies upon identifiable theatrical conventions, stock characters, slapstick humor, and a traditional fairy-tale story arc. The stock characters of a traditional pantomime include (but are not limited to) the pantomime dame (a female role but usually played by a male), the lovers (a direct descendent from the innamorati of Commedia dell’arte), the evil villain or ‘baddy�, the good fairy (or similar equivalent), and the comedic sidekick.

This performance guide will look at how to identify the character you are playing and ways to consider how this affects your physicality, vocal expression, intention, and motivation. We will focus on the importance of physical performance, in terms of movement, stature, and facial expressions. Pantomime is a very stylized genre and the message and/or motivation of a scene or moment, must be instantly recognizable.

Terminology

• Audience Participation: When the audience is expected to join in with the action, usually by singing or dancing.
• Cross-gender Casting: When men play women’s roles & women play men’s roles.
• Dame: A traditional character in British pantomime when female characters are performed by male actors in drag. They are either very camp, or extremely ‘butchâ€�.
• Direct Address: When an actor breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the audience.
• Exaggeration: When the acting style is ‘larger than lifeâ€� or magnified.
• Exaggerated Resistance: Exaggerated resistance is when an actor makes an action more definite and sharper in order to create the illusion of physics, such as the tension when pulling on a rope or the struggle to lift a heavier object. (Exaggerated expressions and gestures are also used to help add to the illusion of resistance.)
• Fairy Tale-: A fictional story of the fantasy genre â€� idealised, romantic, and magical.
• Fourth Wall: The imaginary wall which separates the audience from the stage & the actors.
• Gesture: A gesture is a movement of any part of the body that helps to express an idea.
• Narration: When one actor tells the story and describes the events for the audience.
• Principal Boy: The lead male character, usually played by a female. Traditionally falls in love with the Principal Girl.
• Principal Girl: The lead female character. Usually portrayed as sweet, virtuous, and beautiful, and normally falls in love with the Principal Boy.
• Tableau: A tableau is a living picture featuring one or more characters that remain in a static position.
• Topical Comedy: Jokes that are planned to suit the specific audience.