INTRODUCTION
“Pantomime,pantomime-
Music plays,keeping time,with every heart that knows the score
And we’re all just kids once more”.
A visit to the Pantomime is probably the first visit to the theatre we make.The adults claim they can’t stand it-and yet(to quote Roy Hudd)-“it takes four adults to take two kids to it” !
Pantomime,of course,has it’s roots in Greek mime and Italian Commedia dell’arte-becoming the art form we now know ,largely due to Victorian respectability.Today-a successful pantomime must reflect the jokes,personalities and current affairs of the day-taking into account what is “current” and “specific” to where the show is being played.However-it must also follow a strong story- line ,contain believable characters and played for real emotions.
Adult pantomimes have followed the same pattern-even though they are slightly more “Saucy” and “risqué”. Double entendre’s abound -but they should always have a strong plot that holds them together-rather than them becoming a series of “turns” in a variety show.During the 80’s and 90’s the adult pantomimes at the Pavilion theatre became an institution -with Colin Devereaux’s magnificent dames ,Phil Starr delighting us with his Queen Rat and the best pair of legs on a principal boy-being supplied by Tracey Davenport of the Queen’s head pub.
In 2003-a dedicated troupe, under the production of Brian Ralfe revived this winning format and six years later are still going strong-retaining the winning formula of “something old,something new,something borrowed,something blue” !!
This year’s offering “The Sleeping Beauty” has been a labour of love for both myself and Brian-knitting together an excellent cast of local performers,with a strong script and the traditions of pantomime,through the ages.We hope you enjoy this year’s production and hope to see you in future years for what has now become an institution in Brighton.