HANSEL & GRETEL

Last Saturday, I took my two nieces to see the pantomine "Hansel & Gretel" at the Surrey Arts Centre. April is 3 and Michaella is 5. For those of you who don't know, a pantomine is an English tradition normally performed at Christmas time. It always involves good and evil, there is a villain and good always triumphs over evil. There is always a "dame". It is a lead male character playing a female. And the idea is that it's obvious that it's a man playing a woman..???... a little confusing to say the least. Also the main male character is played by a female also. In this case Hansel was a girl playing a boy... And there is always a "skin" character. A person dressed in an animal skin. This time it was "Kentucky" the overgrown chicken that the "dame" was riding...... I know, I've lost you now but being that I'm a "muser" I felt it necessary to impart my great wisdom.

However, in spite of ALL THAT pantomine is one of the biggest forms of interactive theatre. They always give the audience things to say. For example every time Kentucky came on stage we re required to shout out, "Whosee whoa Speedy Mo!". The kids really enjoyed it and it was long - 2/12 hours with the intermission, but it held their attention the whole time. Whosee Whoa Speedy Mo......

At the end of the panto (theatre talk..) the actors leave the stage and go into the lobby. The audience can get their programs signed and have photos taken with the actors. Michaella and April would not go near the witch. Tooo scary!! Michaella was into having her photo taken but April was a little shy of the whole thing. Overall it was a great time and a real joy to spend time with my little nieces