Traditional English Pantomime

A traditional family pantomime "Jack & the Beanstalk" was playing at a local theater.  A pantomime is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the UK and mostly performed during the Christmas and New Year season.

The performance was in King's Lynn Corn Exchange (about 45 minutes away)

The set before, during intermission and end.

I included a helpful grid below to explain the characters on stage playing out the roles:

Principal Boy - Jack (the gal center stage wearing the gold boots & shorts)

Panto Dame - Jack's Mother (man wearing the Christmas tree outfit)

Co-Principal Girl - Jill (gal to the left of Jack) was the King's Daughter

Comic Lead - Simon (guy to the right of Panto Dame) was Jack's Brother

Villian - Evil Fleshcreep (guy to the left of Panto Dame...it's common to have a celebrity in every pantomime and he was theirs...a soap opera star from East Enders)

The main roles within pantomime are often gender-swapped, and can be played by either sex:

Role	Role description	Played by
Principal Boy/Girl	Main Character in the pantomime	Traditionally a young girl in "male" attire
Panto Dame	Normally the Hero's Mother	Tradionally a middle aged man in drag
Co-Principal Boy/Girl	Normally the Hero's Love Interest	Woman
Comic Lead	Does physical comedy and relates to children in the audience. Often has a phrase he repeats several times and the audience traditionally call out the opposite in response. For example he says "Oh no it isn't", The audience reply "Oh yes it is".	Man
Villain	The pantomime antagonist. Often a wicked wizard or witch.	Man or Woman

[edit]

Role	Role description	Played by
Good Fairy/Wise woman	Usual role is to help (traditionally silly) hero defeat (much more intelligent) villain. Often has a role in the resolution of the plot	Woman (or Man in drag)
Chorus	Members often have several minor roles
Dancers		Usually a group of Young Boys and Girls

The performance very much reminded me of the "Melodramas" I went to see as a child where we boo'd & hissed when the bad guy entered the stage.  Also, there is quite a bit of audience participation which the kids thoroughly enjoyed...it wasn't uncommon to find them bouncing in their chairs with glow sticks, sitting on the edge of their seats or dancing in the aisles.