While watching an episode of "Father Brown" (a BBC mystery series) the other night, I realized that the story was set within the framework of Christmas Pantomime. Even though the plot was about a murder and the miscarriage of justice against a simple young man of the village, the setting was in the context of the community theater production of "Cinderella." The secondary plot lines revolved around the "regulars" being cast in this Christmas Pantomime.
"Pantomime is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking countries, especially during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing. It employs gender-crossing actors and combines topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or folk tale. Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers." (quoted from Wikipedia)
"Pantomime is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking countries, especially during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing. It employs gender-crossing actors and combines topical humour with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or folk tale. Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers." (quoted from Wikipedia)
As the episode progressed, more and more of the pantomime was revealed. All of the elements were there --- the Every-man, a Love Interest, the Do-good characters, the Dame, the Villain, a Comic Duo who provide slapstick comedy, and at least one Funny Animal. In this case, the very large Funny Animal was played by two men dressed in a cow costume, and other funny animals were Mice played by little village children. I was interested especially at how the audience shouted out to the actors, or booed and hissed at the villains or other things that they did not approve. Unfortunately, there were many things about that production that I would have wanted to "boo and hiss."
The idea of Pantomime was to provide Family Friendly entertainment. Had I been in the audience, I am afraid that I would not have enjoyed the crude, lewd and rude "humor." I definitely would disagree that the treatment of the subject matter was Family Friendly. Where the concepts of how to mount a Pantomime are good, the way some productions are directed can definitely lack wholesome moral values. No amount of dressing up in gorgeous costumes and brilliantly painted scenery can mask that lack of moral decency.
The idea of Pantomime was to provide Family Friendly entertainment. Had I been in the audience, I am afraid that I would not have enjoyed the crude, lewd and rude "humor." I definitely would disagree that the treatment of the subject matter was Family Friendly. Where the concepts of how to mount a Pantomime are good, the way some productions are directed can definitely lack wholesome moral values. No amount of dressing up in gorgeous costumes and brilliantly painted scenery can mask that lack of moral decency.
So glad that the elements of Old English Pantomime can be used as a framework for stories told with good character morals. KINDNESS is the value presented in the Bailey Kids Musical "The Adventures of Dick Whittington."
My idea of family friendly is obviously very different from modern English Pantomime.
My idea of family friendly is obviously very different from modern English Pantomime.
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