Panto - what? you Americans amongst us will no doubt be saying......
Pantomimes.
A part of growing up that all English kids go through - a path to growing up and accepting humor into your life, and so on and so on and so on.....
Before you read on, read this for a brief but illuminating background.
Now, we all have Christmas plays at school where you either play a shepherd, or an angel, and on the very rare occasion - dependant on toothlessness-cum-cuteness, Joseph or Mary. (my only Christmas play memory is that of me playing an angel complete with wire coat hanger shaped like a halo wrapped with silver tinsel, wearing a white sheet for my costume and dark navy blue knickers coz I forgot to wear white!!!. Philippa Edwards, my best friend was Mary and Martin King (who I fancied like you wouldn't believe), was playing Joseph. I didn't have many angelic thoughts that night I can tell you :)
Anyway, I digress....... School plays are one thing but Pantomimes are another. Usually, famous people are the star attraction, Sir Ian McKellan stars in this one, but EVERYONE gets in on the act each year. For most pantomimes, you actually get to go to a Theatre, with either your parents or teachers if it school organized. You get dressed up for this special occasion and you remember it for years to come! My dad used to work on an ambulance and his company had tickets for employees kids to go one year, so I took Philippa and off we went. We actually went in the ambulance! How cool is that? The pantomime was excellent - Jack and The Beanstalk if I recall correctly. Full of "Its behind you"s and "Booooooo"s. You KNEW the outcome but it was just magic. Magic I tell you. At some point they even get kids to go up on stage and take part. Philippa was called up but I never did.
I just wish that Pantomimes were a part of life over here coz I know my kids would love it, they are really for any age - so long as you have a sense humor......
This is the only thing that could make my Christmas even more complete. Maybe one year I will go back to England if only for the Pantomime alone!
(If any English people read this - leave a comment and let me know if you loved Pantomimes as much as I do!)
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3 comments:
Yes, I loved panto. You have made me think, maybe I should take the boys to the local panto when I go home!
From : moviegrrl -
Oh how I adore Panto. I think we are actually going to one this year - Peter Pan with Paul Nicholas as Hook. (Not as good as Jason Isaacs but never mind). The we'en is a big Peter Pan fan, MovieMom adores Paul Nicholas, I just love panto - everyone wins!!!
I LOVE Paul Nicholas! He is so hot, even now as he is older........
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