What the Heck is a Panto? (27)

Hi, Again.

A few weeks ago we were told about a program to be given the weekend of November  30:  Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.  A “Panto” it was called.  We weren’t sure what that was and did some speculating.  Maybe “panto” is short for pantomime. But, then they told us that there was dancing and lot of music and singing.  So, not at pantomime.  And, we were told to be sure to get a ticket soon and they always sell out.

Anyway, we went to one of the local stores that was selling the tickets and bought two tickets  for the Saturday, December 1, performance: 2:00 p.m.  At the time we were told “And, there will be ice cream at the intermission.”  Ice Cream?  I was in.

We weren’t sure how long it would take us to walk up to the venue.   We had been there once by car, but not on foot.   So we started out early and, of course, arrived early.    We took our seats and before long the hall filled up.  Lots of people greeted us.  It always amazes me how many people I actually know in this little town after only 2 months.

They were selling tickets to a raffle  to be held during the intermission. There was a table with all the donated items.  Many of chocolate and quite a few of alcohol. Five tickets for  £1.  We each bought five.

Getting ready to start.  Obligatory statements about fire emergency exits, bathrooms and cell phones.   Curtin up:

The story being presented was a version of “A Christmas Carol”, with apologies to Charles Dickens.  The day before, I had Googled “panto”  to see if I could get some idea of what we would be seeing.  The definition was something like this:

“A panto is a traditional fairy tale complete with songs, dances, jokes, exaggerated characters and lots of audience participation.”

Disaster Theatre Company Presents

Scrooge and

the Christmas Ministers

The audience is expected to boo the bad guys and cheer the hero and answer the questions posed from the stage,  make comments and, yes, even heckle the players.  Lots of fun.

All of the characters are exaggerated, as is the acting.  Jokes are made about local people and places.  Even advertisements and pleas for money to support local institutions.  In this case, the Auld Kirk.

Sure looks like   Bob Marley.

So we had the show and the ice cream.  Anne won a bottle of gin with her raffle ticket.  Me, nothing,  But it certainly was a fun program.  It was also very well done:  good directing, good choreography and good acting by all.

I guess in the US we would call that a review, but here in the UK it’s a

PANTO

That’s all for now.  See you later.