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Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Sun Aug 30 2020 7:51am
by blythburgh
I can remember when a theatre put on the Christmas Panto there was cross dressing.

Our local theatre was going to put on Cinderella this year but has reluctantly decided to postpone it for a year with the same cast.

I notice the Ugly Sister will again be proper Dames in the grand tradition and two male actors will portray them.

Dandini at one time was played by the principal boy who was always a female.

The Dandini they have chosen is a man who will be 77 when he treads the boards.

So the handsome young man played by a pretty young woman has become an elderly man.

I find this rather sad. Dads could enjoy the old style Dandini, Mums could enjoy a good looking young man playing him in the modern pantomime. Not sure who will get the same pleasure from a 77 year old now matter how good a performance

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Sun Aug 30 2020 11:08am
by sanity clause
Oh no they haven't....

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Sun Aug 30 2020 12:56pm
by kevinchess1
blythburgh, the days of cheep panto tickets are Behind you.

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Sun Aug 30 2020 5:15pm
by BeautifulSunshine
They call it "moving with the times".

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Mon Aug 31 2020 7:11am
by blythburgh
Given the age of "Dandini" he should be playing "Baron Hardup"

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Mon Aug 31 2020 12:10pm
by pakefield
blythburgh wrote:
Mon Aug 31 2020 7:11am
Given the age of "Dandini" he should be playing "Baron Hardup"
He maybe as the reporting has become more slapdash recently. After all the same local rag reported that it was 60 years ago today The Rolling Stones appeared in the town. The article went on to agree with me that it was in 1963 they made the first of three appearances. Even I know 1963 was not 60 years ago.

And the article went on about buying tickets in advance when it was entrance at the door for the South Pier Ballroom (huge place and barely half full) and at The Royal Hotel for their 2nd appearance. I was in the Merchant Navy by the time they came for the third and last time in 1964 but it would still have pay at the door not buy a ticket in advance

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Mon Aug 31 2020 4:36pm
by Chadwick
Is this a trend, or just a one-off in a single pantomime in a single theatre this year?

You said it was a local theatre - do you mean somewhere like Norwich or Ipswich, or a smaller town like Felixstowe or Lowestoft?

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Tue Sep 01 2020 1:15pm
by pakefield
Chadwick wrote:
Mon Aug 31 2020 4:36pm
Is this a trend, or just a one-off in a single pantomime in a single theatre this year?

You said it was a local theatre - do you mean somewhere like Norwich or Ipswich, or a smaller town like Felixstowe or Lowestoft?
Lowestoft main theatre

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Wed Sep 02 2020 8:10pm
by Chadwick
pakefield wrote:
Tue Sep 01 2020 1:15pm
Chadwick wrote:
Mon Aug 31 2020 4:36pm
Is this a trend, or just a one-off in a single pantomime in a single theatre this year?

You said it was a local theatre - do you mean somewhere like Norwich or Ipswich, or a smaller town like Felixstowe or Lowestoft?
Lowestoft main theatre
With no disrespect to Lowestoft, I suggest this may not be the worrying turn of events it originally appeared to be.

Re: Are Pantomimes changing too much?

Posted: Thu Sep 03 2020 12:39am
by BeautifulSunshine
Chadwick wrote:
Wed Sep 02 2020 8:10pm
pakefield wrote:
Tue Sep 01 2020 1:15pm
Chadwick wrote:
Mon Aug 31 2020 4:36pm
Is this a trend, or just a one-off in a single pantomime in a single theatre this year?

You said it was a local theatre - do you mean somewhere like Norwich or Ipswich, or a smaller town like Felixstowe or Lowestoft?
Lowestoft main theatre
With no disrespect to Lowestoft, I suggest this may not be the worrying turn of events it originally appeared to be.
Come now Chadwick easy to be judgemental from afar.

I was expecting better from you.