Pantomime Dames
What is it with the British and men in frocks? They’re funny, that’s what. And so are the men in frocks. When foreigners claim they can’t understand the subtleties of our humour, it is the pantomime dame, with her billowing gown, extravagant headgear and regulation ton of makeup, that passes them by. But they’ve been around a long time. In Shakespeare’s day, women weren’t allowed on the stage and so the female roles were taken by boys. The true ancestors of the dames, though, are the music-hall and variety stars of the Victorian era, such as Dan Leno and Herbert Campbell. Decked out in an outrageous new frock for each entrance, characters such as Widow Twankey, Dame Trott and the Ugly Sisters are simultaneously the villains of the piece and also lovable for their flirtatious vulgarity. And let’s face it: when the curtain goes up at panto time, who are you most looking forward to seeing? Cinderella? Buttons? Of course not. There is nothin’ like a dame!
Photo: ArenaPAL Picture Library / Topham
NOMINATION 1109 OF 1160
Having tried to explain the tradition of pantomime to American friends I can only say that this is the most peculiar, unique and bizarrely English form of entertainment ever invented. And no pantomime is complete without its dame. Men dressed in women's clothing making slightly risque jokes and flirting with the audience as populist family entertainment? Only in England.
Abigail Anderson
In my childhood, the dames were played by professional wrestlers. They were great, they really knew how to "work" an audience.
The icon should really be The Pantomime, not just the dames. This includes the leading "man" (a woman in tights), and the pantomine horse (or, sometimes, a cow).
Bogus Name
I love Pantomime dames, I think they're the funniest thing in Panto and British humour. So much so that I've devised a street theatre walkabout act comprising of 2 ugly sisters (Rubella & Salmonella) and Buttons. And I'm female! So it's women dressing up as men dressing up as women - how about that for gender bending?!
kate Evans
