I found myself last night trying to explain the concept of pantomime to a Spanish couple. They started off really intent on trying to understand this very English of traditions but by the end of the conversation I’d only managed to totally confuse them. Think about it;

They (panto’s) are based roughly around fairy tales but the script is altered to include characters or “in jokes” from the local community. It’s always a battle between good and evil and good (obviously) prevails. There is a lot of audience participation; the audience is encouraged to shout, sing and even join the actors on stage.

The Principal Girl is always young, pretty and eventually ends up with the Principal Boy.

The Principal Boy is also played by a young, pretty girl. “He” is always dressed in a costume which shows a lot of skin, and thigh length boots. To win the hand of the Principal Girl he has to ultimately be responsible for the downfall of the Baddies.

The Principal Baddie gets boo’d and hissed at by the audience every time he enters the stage and is responsible for working the audience up into a frenzy. He eventually sees the error of his ways and wins over the Dame.

The Dame is an older woman and played by a man in drag. “She” is the voice of reason and also spends a lot of time working the audience. The whole thing gradually builds, costumes get more and more lavish, the audience gets louder and louder till the finale, usually a multiple wedding.

By the end of the evening I was crying laughing and the couple I was talking to were completely lost. They kept asking the same question over and over and I couldn’t answer it…all they wanted to know  was “why”?