Pantomuse are purveyors of Folk Pantomime. Strangely enough, our scripts are not in the form of what has been termed “traditional pantomime”. Traditional folk music is merely that from some time ago. Traditional pantomime uses a set format and oft repeated themes.
Elements include a Dame, Principal Boy, a Baddie, some Animal or other, a Fairy and a couple of Broker’s Men, etc. We repeatedly see Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Robin Hood, Robinson Crusoe and Mother Goose et al. Folk songs are written about people and events present now, or as a reappraisal of events in the past.
Folk Pantomime is just that. Jack’s Beanstalk is, obviously, the result of a GM experiment and the Giant a manisfestation of a drug induced hallucination. Napoleon Bonaparte, an Italian Corsican, had terrible trouble with the French language and Josephine’s name was, actually, Rose. Everyman is a Medieval Morality play and somewhat heavy going for students of English Literature. The Moralitie of Eve Ryman sets the story in today’s environment and adds a big dollop of fun. Indeed, humour and original songs are major features of our Folk Pantomimes.
George Hudson, The Railway King, currently in preparation, will feature Music Hall songs about the railways along with some new songs for good measure.
It is the Director’s function to put her individual stamp on characterization and stage presentation. Our written scripts will work perfectly fine, as are, but they may be equally used as the basis of the Folk Pantomime process. There are no rules in Folk Pantomime, save one. Enjoy.
