Pantomime is a smash at Dickens Fair

As noted in her 2006 book, “Consuming Passions – Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain” bestselling history-author Judith Flanders, writes “Queen Victoria adored the theatre.” And, while it had developed a century earlier “Pantomime was a new genre,” says Flanders. This year at the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair at San Francisco’s Cow Palace, a pantomime will be performed by The Stark Ravens Historical Players. Surprisingly delightful to historians is that despite our continuing advancement into a high tech 21st Century, something from the not too distant past stirs public interest. And, speaking of Queen Victoria for example, the new ‘period-piece’ movie entitled, “Victoria and Abdul” is now playing nationwide. It stars the award-winning Judi Dench, and is enchanting audiences with a peak into personal life behind palace protocols. This is wonderful news for the Dickens Fair, which will be opening this month, the weekend before Thanksgiving. For the cast, crew, staff and everyone else involved with the Dickens Fair, anything 19th Century is ideal fodder for material to be used to attract and entertain audiences. If you are wondering what is a ‘pantomime?’ Think of the 1988 movie, “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.” Based in part upon the 18th Century Raspe text, which was also the inspiration for the 1988 film this family-friendly live-show has original music and songs. It has lots of energy, which appeals to kids and those who are ‘kids at heart.’ The show’s director, Heidi Wohlwend in speaking to this reporter mentioned one such kid at heart. (The late actor-comedian) “Robin Williams was uncredited in the Terry Gilliam film. He played the part of the ‘King of The Moon.’ And, we like to think that if he was still here he would relish that we are reprising the role. Yes, she said in our little production we do have the ‘King of The Moon,’ in it.” Would the queen have seen such a pantomime about the eccentric baron? Probably, but it is hard to say for sure. Because as Flanders points out, “she didn’t trouble to write down the titles of shows she saw.” During an interview by phone Wohlwend said. “Hearing the word ‘pantomime’ people think of charades or the performer Marcel Marceau, miming in make up. A pantomime in 19th Century Victorian England was a form of theater that consisted of a fairytale; with dancing, singing and a big transformation scene where the principal characters are turned into clowns. The ending piece of the show is called a harlequinade. This consists of slapstick clowning bits or lazzi. She explained a bit further saying, pantomime finds its origins from the Commedia dell’arte which was very popular in Italy in the 16th Century. As it spread through Europe, aspects of it appeared in English theaters and street performances. Much of what we know here in American theater by way of Vaudeville comes from this tradition. The clown or jester, prat falls, anything zany, rambunctious or romantic is all part of this tradition. London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as Flanders among others confirmed this. While pantomime lends itself to lots of imaginative interpretations, Wohlwend said that in their production “Baron Muchausen is a central character. He is sort of like an English version of ‘Don Quixote’. The Baron, she said, is tiling at the windmills of the restrictions of authority, defying the rules of logic and reason. He is able to face adversity, tragedy and death with humor. In fact he beats death in the end; much like Mr. Punch vanquishes the devil in the Punch and Judy show. And, don’t we all want to do that? Don’t we want to choose life and love over evil? She said. The Baron’s absurdity shows us the beauty and timelessness of enduring love.” Pantomime fits well with the Dickens holiday themes. Because as Flanders noted. “At the beginning of the (19th) Century, pantomime appeared at four set times of the year: Christmas Day to mid-February…” being one of them. Coincidentally, if taking a viewpoint of technology, what began in the 18th Century as something on a small stage, eventually became big. In fact, as Flanders writes with ”the use of new technology…the spectacle became huge.” And, of course the times of the year to show pantomime also expanded; as did the proceeds earned by theaters that hosted such shows. The Stark Ravens Historical Players have been putting productions up at the Dickens Fair and other events since 2000. And as Wohlwend said, (unlike any huge profit that the Grand Theatre in Leeds in 1855 pulled in) “we are very grass roots. We do all this ourselves on a very limited budget and within a limited venue space. But it is a very rich experience and to have people sing along is exhilarating and rewarding,” she said. Charles Dickens himself was very enthralled by the pantomime shows that were filling theaters during his day. So much so as Flanders notes, he included a description of a pantomime show “so feelingly’ in his novel “David Copperfield.” When so much about today is centered-around technology, it is unusual that something “low tech or no tech” is a smashing success – especially with kids. “This is our second year performing this production, said Wohlwend. And, while our first few shows were sparsely attended, last year, we finished the season (at the Dickens Fair) performing to packed houses.

Parents sometimes get a bit confused but the kids love it, she said. For them it is easy to follow.” “The Surprising Tale of Baron Munchausen and Mopsa the Fairy: or how Munchausen, Jack and Mopsa the Fairy, defeat evil Queen Edwina Picklewurst and save Fairyland,” will be playing at the Victoria & Albert Bijou Music Hall at the Dickens Fair inside The Cow Palace Exhibition Halls during the run of The Great Dickens Christmas Fair on weekends from Nov. 18 to Dec. 17. For details on show times, ticket prices and other information, visit the Dickens Fair web site.