(Photo by Steve Fuller) Every winter across the British Isles eyes light up in anticipation of one thing: It's panto season! But those lit-up eyes aren't those of kids; they're those of washed-up TV stars and C-list celebrities who know they'll be able to get a few weeks work in a Christmas Pantomime. Panto is an art form that is virtually unique to the U.K. They're almost always based on fairy tales (one site lists over 50 professional productions of "Cinderella" alone), and feature comely lasses playing the principal boys, male actors in drag as evil stepmothers, double entendres, and loads of audience participation. Pantos may not be Shakespeare, but they've drawn everyone from Ian McKellan and Danny Kaye to May McFettridge and Joe Pasquale. Some performers may think they're too big for panto, but if all you're looking for is a few songs, a few jokes, and a good night out, you could do worse. Suggested Sites... It's-Behind-You.com - panto history, scripts, images, and performance calendar. Wikipedia: Pantomime - history of British Christmas entertainment from the 18th century to present. Write a Brilliant Pantomime With Billy & Wolfy - hints on how to create your own panto from "Billy Shakespeare" and "Wolfy Mozart." Pantomime in the 1940s & 1950s - memories from a golden age. The Great British Theatre Tradition - Pantomime - basic overview of the art form from About.com.

Directory categories: Pantomime, Theater, Theater in London, Christmas Plays and Skits, British Humor

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