Panto Dames

[crabtree]

In this climate of wokeness, being sensitive about race and gender and such, has there ever been a serious objection to men playing Panto dames? it can't be long before the joyous, healthy absurdity of panto is attacked. Well yes, Snow white has suffered of late, hasn't she, but please leave the dame alone.

[Mark]

God I hope not.
Those that object need not go and see!

[sph]

At the same time, drag is now incredibly popular, practically mainstream entertainment, so I think it's safe for now.

[firefingers]

Gotta love when people just make up some utter nonsense and then get upset by it. Drag is more popular, more supported, and more mainstream than ever, particularly those on the political left. Getting all cross about a hypothetical that shows literally no signs of happening is hilarious to me.

[FairyGodmother]

There was a re-running of a Friday Night is Music Night a few weeks ago, which had Russell Grant presenting, and in the bit in the middle he was talking about this. He said when he first played a dame he spoke to [very well-known panto dame actor] (I've completely forgotten who, so please somebody say if you know!) who said "you have to remember you're not doing drag, you're playing a man in a dress". Which I thought was quite interesting.

I don't think a pantomime dame is anything like drag or gender though, it's just one convention in a type of performance that has many conventions (dame, principal boy, side the stage is entered, well-defined audience participation). I doubt it upsets anybody, because it's within a very set framework. In the same way that I haven't heard anybody complain about violence against animals or the police in Punch and Judy.

[crabtree]

oh I've seen pantos with the 'principal boy' played by a boy. Yep Panto dames are fascinating to me.....never should they be played by femal impersonators, but what gets me about panto is just how easy children accept without question these gloriously bizarre conventions. A lesson to be learnt there.

[talkingheads]

Has there been a controversy I've missed? Dames are some of the greatest all round entertainers in the country. Berwick Kaler, Clive Rowe, Ben Roddy, Bob Golding and many, many more.