So this is almost a rant, but its pretty damn weak.
Anyway, one of my fondest memories from the UK, where I lived until I was 20, was the Christmas Panto. The whole family went to Norwich every year to see Dick Whittington or Alladin, and very few things in my life come even close to the amount of fun I had there. Which may or may not be indicative of my very boring life.
Why couldn’t it be popular in America? Its enjoyable for all ages…has tons of audience participation, loads of laughs, interesting costumes, can be put on locally…
I really really ought to try, maybe, but I wonder how the natives of Olathe, KS would deal with it. And I’m no actor. I just wish someone would stage a proper panto around here.
Given that English-speaking Canada (or at least Ontario) was very British* up until the Second World War, I wonder whether panto ever got established here and died out, or what…?
[sub]*My father’s high-school textbooks were full of things like “for King and Empire”.
Up until fifty years ago or so, the two biggest parades in Toronto were the Santa Claus Parade …and the Orangemens’ Parade. Nowadays most people have never even heard of the Orange parade. And I shudder to think what the people of fifty years ago would have thought of the Caribana parade… or the Gay Pride Parade.[/sub]
ouisey, you should start one. Do it. Because you are in Olathe Kansas. Start planning for next year. Get some friends involved. Without you, Olathe, Kansas will never become the Christmas panto capital of the United States. Americans will not travel from hundreds of miles to Kansas as part of their Christmas traditions unless you take the bull by the horns here.
I was talking to a friend recently. She grew up in Pearland, Texas. Yeah, I never heard of it either. But her father started a high school drama club there several years ago. Over the years, it’s become a major function in the town’s social calendar. Every performance sells out. Graduated students come back every year to help. So, this town that lived only for high school football now has a thriving drama program.
Olathe Kansas should have a Christmas Panto. And you have been called to create it.