"I'm really passionate about pantomime because it is often the first introduction for a child to theatre, and if that child has a great experience at a pantomime they will continue to come year after year." - John Barrowman
Begin the session by asking members "Who has been to the theatre to see a Pantomime?"
"Who went as a child?" & "Who went recently?"
"What are the things that you like about going to the theatre?"
"What is the best show you ever saw?"
Here are some things to get the discussion going ...
What can you see in the above pictures ...
- Box ******
- Pop****
- U****
- 'Wall's' *** *****
- Stage ******
- Curtain ****
- Standing *******
Some standout characteristics of a pantomime include:
- Gender role reversal
- A storyline of good vs evil
- Slapstick comedy
- Colourful, eccentric costumes
- Audience participation
- Likely derived from a fairy tale or nursery story
The main traditional characters in a pantomime are:
- Pantomime Dame
- Prince Charming
- Principal Boy
- Principal Girl
- The Villain
- Good/Bad Fairy
- Comedy characters
- Panto animal
IDIOMS
Next, complete these well known phrases with members, by way of a shout out ...
- Let's get this show on the ROAD
- Dress REHEARSAL
- Opening NIGHT
- Green ROOM
- Never work with children or ANIMALS
- In the limeLIGHT
- It's a real showSTOPPER
- The show must go ON
- Wait in the WINGS
- Play second FIDDLE
- Under STUDY
- Tough act to FOLLOW
- "It's behind YOU!"
- "Oh no it ISN'T!"
- "Oh yes it IS!"
- Break a LEG
- Widow TWANKY
- Damsel in DISTRESS
- From rags to RICHES
- It ain't over 'til the fat LADY SINGS
- They all lived happily EVER AFTER
- Once upon a TIME
Our first song is ...
'Prince Charming', by Adam And The Ants - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p__WmyAE3g
Which fairy tale is this video based on?
Who featured in the video as the Fairy Godmother?
Or members might like to listen to this older song ...
'Cinderella Rockefella', Esther & Abi Ofarim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBjI1aC4yCM
NB If you click on the first image, a slide show will open ...
ROUND 1. Name The Pantomime
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'A******' Clue. "'My master,' the genie said, 'I am so happy to serve you again. What do you wish for?'" Name the two Welsh stars (a pop singer & a rugby player)? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'J*** & *** B********' Clue. "Fe, fi, fo, fum. I smell the blood of an Englishman." Name the star (a pop singer)? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'S*** W****' Clue. “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?” Name the seven dwarfs? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'D*** W*********' Clue. "The streets of London are paved with gold." Name the star ('Eastenders' actor)? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'P**** P**' Clue. “All children, except one, grow up." Name the star (comedian)? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'C*********' Clue. "Though you’re dressed in rags, you wear an air of queenly grace. Anyone can see a throne would be your proper place." What is the Prince's name? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'M***** G****' Clue. "Little boy blue, Come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow, The cow's in the corn. But where is the boy Who looks after the sheep? He's under a haystack, Fast asleep.” Who wrote the fable? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'S******* B*****' Clue. "And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love's kiss, the spell shall break." Name the two lead actors (second and third from left)? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'G********* & *** ***** *****' Clue. “Someone's been sleeping in my bed, and she's still there!” What did they eat for breakfast? |
 | Name the Pantomime? - 'L***** *** ****** ****' Clue. "You know, my dear, it isn't safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone." Which French author wrote most of the most famous fairy tales, including this one? |
'Beauty And The Beast', Ariana Grande & John Legend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axySrE0Kg6k
Who plays the beauty in this music video?
What was her character's name in the 'Harry Potter' movies?
ROUND 2. Famous Pantomime Dames & Princes
 | Name the Prince? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Dame? |
 | Name the Prince & Dame? |
'There Is Nothing Like A Dame', South Pacific - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljm9CDRAhMQ
Name the following British Dames?
Clues.
- Victoria Wood's comedy partner
- Landlady of the 'Queen Vic'
- Alexis Carrington in 'Dynasty'
- Glamour model
- Jessica Fletcher in 'Murder She Wrote'
- DI Jane Tennison in 'Prime Suspect'
- Dowager Duchess Violet Crawley in 'Downton Abbey'
- 'Cleopatra' actress
- & 'M' in later James Bond movies
Round 3. Fairy Tale Movies
 | Name the 1940 fairy tale movie? - 'F*******' Name the mouse? |
 | Name the 1940 fairy tale movie? - 'P********' What made his nose grow? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds2LbtOX7fY |
 | Name the 1942 fairy tale movie? - 'B****' Name the rabbit? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saa98l0yDYQ&t=53s |
 | Name the 1955 fairy tale movie? - 'L*** & T** T****' Name the breeds of dogs? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhJcyrkfjQg |
 | Name the 1967 fairy tale movie? - 'T** J***** B***' Name the characters? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BH-Rxd-NBo |
 | Name the 1970 fairy tale movie? - 'T** A**********' Name the two adult cats? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rrXR6n0RTY&t=5s |
 | Name the 1996 fairy tale movie? - '101 D*********' What was the name of the villain and who played her? |
 | Name the 2001 fairy tale movie? - 'S****' Which actor played the main character? |
 | Name the 2010 fairy tale movie? - 'A**** I* W*********' Which character did Johnny Depp play in the 2010 movie? |
 | Name the 2019 fairy tale movie? - 'T** L*** K***' Name the father and son characters? Song link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc |
'Somewhere Over The Rainbow', sung by Judy Garland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
What were Dorothy and her friends searching for in 'The Wizard Of Oz'?
Round 4. Other Fairy Tales
- 'T**** L***** P***'
What three materials were the houses made out of?
- H***** & G*****'
What was the witch's house made out of?
- 'R**************'
What did he spin straw into?
- 'R*******'
Which brothers wrote this and many other fairy tales?
- 'T** E******'* N** C******'
Of what material were the tailors commissioned to make?
- 'P******* & T** P**'
Why was the sensitivity of her skin being tested?
'The Ugly Duckling', sung by Danny Kaye - https://youtu.be/QwqmlrVGa54
Who wrote this and many other fairy tale?
SOME FINAL SONGS
- Box OFFICE
- PopCORN
- USHER
- 'Wall's' ICE CREAM
- Stage LIGHTS
- Curtain CALL
- Standing OVATION
'Cinderella'
Diana Dors
Round 1
'Aladdin' / H from 'Steps' (Ian Watkins) & Gareth Thomas (Alfie)
'Jack And The Beanstalk' / Duncan James (from 'Blue')
'Snow White' / Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy & Sneezy
'Dick Whittington' / Shane Richie
'Peter Pan' / Jason Manford
'Cinderella' / Prince Charming
'Mother Goose' / Aesop
'Sleeping Beauty' / Joe Pasquale & Lesley Joseph
'Goldilocks And The Three Bears' / Porridge
'Little Red Riding Hood' / Charles Perrault
Emma Watson / Hermione Granger
Round 2
Lionel Blair
Les Dawson
Ronnie Corbett
John Inman
Dame Enda Everage (Barry Humphries)
Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady)
Julian Clary
Elton John
Christopher Biggins
Cliff Richard & Una Stubbs
- Victoria Wood's comedy partner - JULIE WALTERS
- Landlady of the 'Queen Vic'- BARBARA WINDSOR
- Alexis Carrington in 'Dynasty' - JOAN COLLINS
- Glamour model - TWIGGY (LESLEY LAWSON)
- Jessica Fletcher in 'Murder She Wrote' - ANGELA LANSBURY
- DI Jane Tennison in 'Prime Suspect' - HELEN MIRREN
- Dowager Duchess Violet Crawley in 'Downton Abbey' - MAGGIE SMITH
- 'Cleopatra' actress - ELIZABETH TAYLOR
- & 'M' in later James Bond movies - JUDI DENCH
Round 3
'Fantasia' / Mickey Mouse
'Pinocchio' / Lying
'Bambi' / Thumper
'Lady And The Tramp' / Mongrel & American Cocker Spaniel
'The Jungle Book' / Ball, Mowgli & Bagheera
'The Aristocrats' / Thomas O'Malley & Duchess
'101 Dalmatians' / Cruella DeVil - Glenn Close
'Shrek' / Mike Myers
'Alice In Wonderland' / The Mad Hatter
'The Lion King' / Mufasa & Simba
Hans Christian Andersen
Round 4
- 'THREE LITTLE PIGS'
What three materials were the houses made out of? - STRAW, TWIGS & BRICKS
- HANSEL & GRETEL'
What was the witch's house made out of? - GINGERBREAD
- 'RUMPLESTILTSKIN'
What did he spin straw into? - GOLD
- 'RAPUNZEL'
Which brothers wrote this and many other fairy tales? - GRIMM
- 'THE EEMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES'
Of what material were the tailors commissioned to make? - INVISBLE
- 'PRINCESS & THE PEA'
Why was the sensitivity of her skin being tested? - TO TEST HER ROYAL HERITAGE
DOROTHY was looking to GO HOME
TIN MAN was looking for A HEART
COWARDLY LION was looking for COURAGE
SCARECROW was looking for A BRAIN
