Panto

Panto! What is panto i hear you cry. Well if you are not British you may not know or understand. It seems that it is something that is as English as Queen Elizabeth II. Where else in the world would you find a tradition fairy tale acted out on stage with a man dressed as a woman and the leading male character being played by a girl. I have to say that if you are in England over the Christmas period find yourself a panto to go and see. They are fun and entertaining. As a member of the Kingsbourne Players amdram group i have had the pleasure of staring in two of these stage shows. You can picture the scene. A stage with a set of backdrops and bright pictures. The story unfolds in front of your eyes with colourful characters including the Dame (usually a man dressed as a woman using a silly voice), a fool of sorts who usually gets the audience involved. A king, Queen and a villian who will get it in the end. A light hearted stage show that requires the participation of the crowd. I find they tend to leave me feeling like i have had a good time in the company of good friends. A must see if you have the time.