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PANTOMIMEThe word pantomime derives from the Greek words "pantos mimos", meaning "we can act anything".  The first big star of pantomime was Joseph Grimaldi, who starred at Drury Lane in London for 30 years until 1823, when he retired. It was said that he almost crippled himself as a result of his enthusiastic performances, injuring himself as he threw himself around the stage. Violence was common at pantomimes in the early years. Fights regularly broke out in the 18th and 19th centuries because people fought for the best seats or because they were fed up with the performances and heckled the actors.
The word, Abracadabra, originates from the 2nd Century and was supposed to protect people from illness. The colour green is considered unlucky in pantomime circles. Performers in the pantomimes, Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood, wear brown rather than green to protect themselves from ill-fortune. Another superstition is never to say the last line of the show until the first night. Many writers have commented about the art of pantomime. Charles Dickens said that "a pantomime is, to us, a mirror of life." "A child who has never seen a pantomime or an adult who has never seen a play is a public danger," declared George Bernard Shaw. There are over 2,000 versions of Cinderella. This tale dates from the 9th Century. The most popular version of the story comes from the one in the 1820s by the Brothers Grimm. The oldest professional pantomime artist in 1996 was Jack Tripp, who was then aged 73. He has been playing in Mother goose in Plymouth. The youngest star is appearing in the same pantomime but in Plymouth. Roy Hudd has appeared in 28 pantomimes in a row. He will be appearing alongside the youngest panto star. 
Other stars appearing are soap stalwarts from, among others, Eastenders, Neighbours and Home and Away. There are at least 13 actors from the latter Australian programme in this country. The Wimbledon Theatre is showing Aladdin, with Danny La Rue, Derek Griffiths and Brushstrokes' Karl Howman. In Croydon, Peter Pan is gracing the stage with the likes of Paul Bradley from Eastenders, Gareth Hunt and childrens' TV presenter, Philippa Forrester. Richmond has Lionel Blair and Leslie Ash in Cinderella; Woking Dick Whittington with Lesley Joseph from Birds of a Feather, Kriss Akabusi and Rosemarie Ford.
Around 5.2 million people will see a pantomime this year. It is reckoned that there will be at least 105,000 "oh no, he isn't - oh yes he is" phrases spoken this season. The cost of Danny La Rue's gowns is supposed to be in the region of 250,000. Roy Hudd will have 400 kilos of slosh poured down his trousers. All this goes to prove that there's more to pantos than meets the eye. Oh yes, there is! | ||||||||||