Pantomime Research Paper

The History of Pantomime In the United Kingdom, the word "Pantomime" means a form of entertainment, generally performed during the Christmas season. Most cities and towns throughout the UK have a form of Pantomime at this time of year. The origins of British Pantomime or "Panto" as it is known date back to the middle ages, taking on board the traditions of the Italian "Commedia dell’ Arte, the Italian night scenes and British Music hall to produce an intrinsic art form that constantly adapted to survive up to the present day. Pantomime has been attempted abroad, usually with a small amount of success. Not surprisingly it has proved popular in countries such as Canada, Australia and South Africa- recently a production of "Babes
The influences of the Italian "Commedia dell’Arte" can be seen here. This form of entertainment traveled through Italy to France, where it became very popular. It consisted of a number of stock characters performing comic situations, with a highly visual content. The actors generally improvised their way through a plot involving characters such as Arlecchino, or Harlequin and his true love, Columbina or Columbine. Other stock characters were the over protective father, Pantaloon, who refused to allow the heroic Harlequin to seek his daughter’s affections. In various versions Pantaloon has a servant, Pulchinello, later to be known as Clown, and a soldier, an unsuitable suitor who seeks the hand of Columbine. Comic chases and tricks were employed to full effect. Although the character of "Pulchinello" has vanished from the Pantomime today, he still exists in this country as "Mr. Punch", the anti-heroic puppet, who along with his wife Judy can still be seen in seaside towns and parks entertaining children
Harlequin, in these semi improvised scenes would be in control of the situation. He would know when the scenery should be changed, and it is believed he would "Clap" his slapstick to indicate that this should happen, in the form of an audible cue. This may well be the basis of the theatrical superstition that one should never clap backstage, for fear of bad luck, Since bringing heavy scenery down upon your head could be bad luck indeed! Harlequinade
By the early eighteenth century, the first use of the word "Pantomime" emerges. A "balletpantomime" was created, "The loves of Mars and Venus" in 1717, followed by "Harlequin Sorcerer", produced by John Rich, who under his stage name "Lun" played Harlequin. Rich was responsible for creating the first "Harlequinade. Harlequinades were produced all year round at his Lincoln Inn Fields Theatre, and these became so popular that David Garrick at Drury Lane felt obliged to mount his own pantomime, the difference being that his Harlequin spoke the lines, with less emphasis on mime. By 1773 the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane presented the first pantomime story that has a direct descendant today, "Jack the Giant Killer". The Harlequinades continued to be played as short pieces put on after the main drama of the evening was concluded, as a sort of antidote to the