It's Panto Season.
As with so many, my first real introduction to 'theatre' was through Pantomime. I loved it as a child, and would still love it today, if I had a chance to go. Christmas wasn't complete without shouting "Behind You".
My two favourite Dames were the ebullient Christopher Biggins, and the late Billy Dainty.
Biggins has his detractors, but stick him in an outrageous frock, and he'll make the most mundane of Pantos come alive. Billy Dainty was the same.
Third on my list of favourites has to be the lovely Don Smoothey. I worked with Don on a Summer Show back in the late 60's, and he was an absolute delight.
These three 'Dames' had one thing in common; they are/were all natural true 'SHOWMEN'. Many pretend to be; but very few really are. It's an essential characteristic of Panto Dame-ism.
Viva Widow Twankey et al.
I was only introduced to pantomime in my thirties. We'd moved to a pre-dominanty English town in South Africa. My sister invited us to Cinderella and we never missed a Christmas Panto all the years we lived there. Have a wonderful Christmas. Jo.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise it was international.
DeleteAll those Cristmas things are new to me and I am learning so many intreresting small details which I so like.
ReplyDeleteI was taken only once as a child but can only remember the sing-a-long following the bobbing ball I found it all a bit scary with the larger than life characters but a couple of years ago I went to see Beauty and the Beast panto with a friend and loved it all.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember going to a panto as a child….it probably would have cost too much! Not keen on them at all. Bah humbug!
ReplyDeleteI wish you and Lady M a lovely Christmas.
"Oh No they aren't !"
ReplyDeleteI think you have to be English to love a pantomime they don't do anything for me.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Cro.
I've gone off you, Helsie!
DeleteWeren't you the dresser for whatshisface with the sausage routine?
ReplyDeleteYes. Sandy Powell; the world's finest vent' act.
DeleteOh no !!
DeleteBill Simpson, Dr Finley, made a great Dame in panto in Newcastle in 1974.
ReplyDeletegood evening,
ReplyDeleteI think that the name of the apple you are looking for is BEDAN;
IF you go on google image and write "pomme bedan" you will see some which look very much like the one you posted.
yours
claude vergne
Thanks for that Claude; I think you could be right. It certainly could be a cider apple, as apple juice was often put through the grape remains here, after the wine had been drawn off (it made a half/half cider/wine mix).
DeleteI must say Cro that I have never really caught on to the idea of Panto - sorry and all that. Have a lovely Christmas eating all those goodies you have been making for the last few months. And do post some photographs of the srumptious food. Happy christmas to you both.
ReplyDeleteAnd to you Weaver. Thank you.
DeleteWe had some displaced Brits at my last location who talked a local theatre troupe into doing a panto at Christmas. It was very silly, over-the-top, and while having to explain a bit of it to many of the audience took some of the spontaneity out of it, it was great fun. The dame was wonderful, a middle aged American man who later said to me after his début as a dame, he understood a bit better why drag queens loved dressing up.
ReplyDeleteI moved away soon afterwards and am unsure if it caught on there.