Report on History Society Meeting 24th June 2024
Jim Stebbings from Dereham, near Norwich, gave a talk entitled “Oh yes, it is. The English Pantomime”. Pantomime has its roots in ancient Greece. In Roman times a pantomime was often an individual telling stories in mime, accompanied by dance and music. Most people know what they will get at a pantomime and they expect it. The principal boy is traditionally played by a young woman and her romantic partner is usually the principal girl. An older woman, the pantomime dame, is usually played by a man in drag (Dress Resembling a Girl). Audience participation is encouraged, including calls of “He’s behind you!” and “Oh, yes, it is!”. The good fairy enters from stage right (left from the audience’s perspective) and the villain enters from stage left. This comes from medieval mystery play convention where the right side of the stage symbolised Heaven and the left side symbolised Hell. The audience is always encouraged to hiss or jeer at the villain. A slapstick comedy routine (slosh scene) may be performed, often a decorating or baking scene, with humour based on throwing messy things.
John Rich played a key role in the emergence of pantomime. He was a dancer, acrobat and mime artist and during the 1720s he was managing a theatre at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. He invented Harlequin, with spectacular performances that attracted controversy. Critics complained that this foreign entertainment threatened the downfall of Shakespeare and the death of serious theatre. David Garrick was one of the critics but he also realised the commercial potential of this emerging form. He set about changing pantomime’s perception, partly by limiting Theatre Royal, Drury Lane pantomimes to the Christmas season. Thus, pantomimes became associated with the fun and frivolity of the holiday season.
Pantomime in Europe first became popular in 16th century Italy with improvised performances taking place outside in streets and marketplaces. Travelling from place to place these actors began to take their shows across Europe. They visited England on several occasions and Shakespeare was impressed. By the 18th century thousands of people, from aristocrats to apprentices, patronised theatres in London every night.
In the early 1800s, pantomime clown Joseph Grimaldi, with white face and red cheeks, became one of the most famous characters in Regency London. Lord Byron gave him a snuff box and Charles Dickens compiled Grimaldi’s biography. These early pantomimes were restricted to being silent, or “dumb show”, performances with only dancing and gestures. Spoken drama was not allowed in London theatres until Parliament changed this restriction in 1843. Dan Leno was a music-hall performer who created the dame in the late 1880s. He started playing roles like the Queen in Humpty Dumpty, or Widow Twankey in Aladdin and thus he brought cross dressing into panto. He became one of the highest paid comedians in the world.
Next meeting-
17 September. Fenland Farming in the 1950s.
News item submitted by Selwyn Richardson
