Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. {Greg Anderson}
It's February! Nearly March already, and here I am sat at my desk in the actors call centre, after a gruelling weekend back in the bar. How odd and heartbreaking not to be Buttons! But before you reach for any sharp knives or high beams... hold on... it's almost panto season (only 262 days for me..... hopefully)!
I mentioned in my last post a theory I have about the future of pantomime... allow me to divulge.
Pantomime has definitely been through a bit of a resurgence in the past few years. Growing in popularity and attracting a whole range of stars from home and abroad. After passing through it's Golden age, when every theatre (even in the West End) had a production running, and usually for a lot longer than they do now, the genre suffered a bit of a slump. Families began to think it was a bit dated and you'd only get the panto faithfulls and Z-list celebs taking to the stage.
It fell to companies like Qdos and First family to reboot the genre, and the introduction of hi-tech special effects became the centre piece of any production. Who hasn't seen a 3D genie, a flying motor bike or Pegasus the flying horse over the past 10 years or so? But it worked; more and more people have been flocking to panto's year on year, with companies yearly reporting "smashing" their own sales records. Companies are starting earlier and finishing later, Evolution productions had two lengthy runs again this year and the Hippodrome played until Feb 2nd. So obviously the demand is there and hopefully the NDoPP, which I'm involved with will show over the coming seasons, National trends and variations, as we collect more data.
In the past few seasons, celebrities have started migrating back to panto - even 'immigrating' as US stars such as Henry Winkler, The Hoff and Pamela Anderson took to the boards. Home grown talent too have changed their opinions. Instead of only seeing names that barely managed to reach Z-List status in 1983, we now see people taking breaks from their regular contracts on soaps or panel shows and companies competing to employ the latest reality star as their 'Hook' or 'Wishee'. Panto is big business again, and although it never really ever went away, the art form itself has entered a new, reinvigorated era.
I've been saying for a year or two that entertainment will have to eventually come full circle. People will tire of seeing the hi-tech, mega glitz of modern entertainment. In harder times where people cant afford such luxuries, people will start coming back to older forms, which focus on people craft and skill. This can already be seen with the soaring popularity of the Circque du Soleil in recent years and of course the immergence of "BGT" or Britain's Got Talent - with a number of it's acts going on to panto seasons; who saw Flawless or Pudsey the dog this year?
So what do people want? We're bored of some teenie pop idol, warbling a high b flat. We want to see magic, circus skills, clean comedy (the shock and awe of naughties comedy now wearing thin) and most of all... SLAPSTICK!
"One Man Two Guvnors" has taken the West End and Broadway by storm, as well as securing a UK tour. Why has it become so popular? Not only because of the well written script and able talent from all involved, but I believe it's because it's something a little different, that people have forgotten or more likely ignored. "Ah slapsticks old fashioned. It's all Laurel and Hardy" etc etc. People seem to forget that slapstick happens naturally in lots of everyday situations day on day, and is a relevant and rib busting now as it ever was.
In Guildford, one of the audiences favourite sketches is the "Twelve Days of Christmas". Twelve different gifts (all amusing like a 'Bra that was meant to hold three') flung around the stage causing complete mayhem, as the comic and stooge slip and slide all over the stage. As Pc Pongo in Aladdin, I as the stooge, took the brunt of this routine... and I LOVED IT!!! 3149 custard pies in the face in my first incarnation, pots and pans hitting my head and rubber chickens slapping my face. Knickers thrown into the audience and several tubes of Arnicare to heal the bruises. The Audiences love it, and in Guildford it has been reprised 3 times in the past five seasons. This year we had a Riverdance skit and Liberace spoof with collapsing stools and smoking pianos! Simple, innocent comedy - loved by all the family from 9 to 90!
Obviously we don't want to be catapulted back to the panto dark ages, and a balance of both modern and traditional has to be found. Looking ahead I think 'Imagine' and a few of the in house productions will be worth watching over the next few years. With the some of our bigger companies rapidly approaching milestone birthdays, but still repeating their set formats, these break through companies offer that something different a modern audience require.
"Imagine" panto's are full of slapstick, well written gags and colourful costumes and scenery, that remain loyal to pantomimes traditions, whilst adding that 2014 twist, to keep us engaged. They mainly use comedy actors instead of celebs who may (I fear) just be in it for the spondoolicks and also supply a lot of in-house productions with scenery, from their ever growing stores. They go from strength to strength and I'll definitely be keeping my eye on their development, with both anticipation and now expectation.
As we begin to emerge from the cloud of harder times, smaller companies are now finding themselves with that little extra cash to spend on boosting their client base. I assume that within the next year or two, as the apron strings are released a little, people may start investing a little more back into the arts industry. This combined leads us to the exciting possibility of new or current baby companies taking the leap to the next league. A costumier combined with a local theatre and a script writer, could for example for quite a team!!
Either way, it's an exciting time for pantomime and panto lovers. The art form is finally starting to get the credit it deserves, with National and Global appreciation growing year on year. Only time will tell what happens over the next decade - which companies will emerge, who will fold and who will be top of the bill in Brum come 2024? And who will be producing that show? If Qdos, roll out the format they used for "Snow White" this year, they long may reign!
For me? I can't shed any light on that one yet I'm afraid. I'm hoping that I'll be able to share some exciting news soon, but for now we can but wait. Many thanks to all my readers over the season and to all the people that saw the show and showed support. It's all appreciated, in the sincerest of ways. My 'non-panto' blog is in the process of launching so keep your eyes peeled for that and I'm sure (Panto Gods allowing) I'll be back in the Autumn for another panto insight..... hopefully in Guildford.
It might just be me but I do think "Muddles Memoirs" has a nice ring to it...!
'Thanks Gang'
JB - BB
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