Centuries old and hugely popular in the UK, Canada and Austrailia, traditional pantomimes entertain millions of families each year with plots loosely based on childrens stories. With it's roots in Commedia dell'arte, they are populated by a combination of well known figures such as Cinderella, Puss 'N Boots, Aladdin and Red Riding Hood. Pantomimes include music, dancing, fairytale adventure and audience participation. Also included is a Harlequinade, a free-standing performance piece of slapstick. Some traditional elements of Pantomime - The leading male juvenile character (the "principal boy") is traditionally played by a young woman. - An older woman (the pantomime dame - often the hero's mother) is usually played by a man in drag. - Audience participation, including calls of "look behind you!" (or "he's behind you!"), and "Oh, yes it is!" or "Oh, no it isn't!" The audience is always encouraged to "Boo" the villain, and "Awwwww" the poor victims, such as the rejected dame, who usually fancies the prince. - A song combining a well-known tune with re-written lyrics. The audience is encouraged to sing the song; often one half of the audience is challenged to sing "their" chorus louder than the other half. - The good fairy always enters from stage right and the evil villain enters from stage left. In Commedia Dell 'Arte the right side of the stage symbolized Heaven and the left side symbolized Hell. - The members of the cast throw out sweets to the children in the audience. - Sometimes the story villain will squirt members of the audience with water guns or pretend to throw a bucket of "water" at the audience that is actually full of streamers - A slapstick comedy routine may be performed, often a decorating or baking scene, with humour based around throwing messy substances. - Risqué double entendre, often wringing innuendo out of perfectly innocent phrases, which is over the heads of the children in the audience. For further information, see: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime. " Red Riding Hood and Willy the Woodsman, Hero and Heroine of our tale! Beware the Spider King! It's Queen Bess! God Save The Queen! We've heard lobsters love to dance! The lovers, Harlequin and Columbine! Pantaloon waxes philosophical! The Clown and Pantaloon tell us, "It's All... Over!"