The Panto Project (USA)

Subject: The Panto Project (USA)
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 22 - 04:42 PM

Just learned of something that has been going on
in New York City's Lower East Side (Manhattan)
for the last four or five years.
A wife-husband team named Julie Muz and Mat Fraser
wanted to put a North American twist on the Christmas pantomime,
so they started writing their own,
helping themselves freely to the real thing from England.

They started with "Jack and the Beanstalk".
This year it was "Dick Rivington and the Cat", a spin-off from
Dick Whittington and His Cat.

Here is a one-minute (and a bit extra) sample of the Rivington version.

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Dec 22 - 07:24 PM

I think one part of the question, why panto in New York City,
has been answered by the video to which this post will link.
Mat Fraser, the husband in the wife-and-husband panto team,
speaks with an unmistakeable English accent,
and he is one of the main writers for the pantos by this company.
This spot is from the BBC.

Can this curious British custom charm the US?

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Dec 22 - 09:16 PM

....I am lost ....

What the floken Christmas tree am I viewing? ? ?

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

You are in my prayers

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 09:29 AM

It's called the Christmas Pantomime, Gargoyle,
and I suspect that the Mudcat has numerous threads on the subject.
Entertainment for the whole family.

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 12:12 PM

There was a story on NPR about the beloved British actor Gandalf Ian McKellen doing a tour of a panto show (meant to be bawdy, in such a way so the kids can enjoy it but don't know what the adults are laughing about) that will be touring until about Easter. Lots of other shows were cancelled at various London-area theaters because of COVID for the last three years. He is making an effort to make a panto comeback and take it out to smaller towns and spend a week at a time doing the shows, then moving on. Sounds wonderful!

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 12:55 PM

Yes, Sir Ian McKellen added to his repertoire
the role of the Widow Twankey in "Aladdin".
Older 'panto' threads no doubt acknowledge this,
he first performed the role years ago.

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Dec 22 - 01:58 PM

Oh no he didn't!

He's behind you!

Subject: RE: The Panto Project (USA)
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 02 Jan 23 - 06:59 AM

SRS mentions Ian McKellen. I've had the great joy of seeing his Twankey and now his Mother Goose. He was great as Twankey and just brilliant as Mother Goose. Mother Goose is in London until the end of January and then, as Stilly says, touring in England and Wales, with a brief hop over to Dublin, until April 16th. Highly recommended.

LFF