Panto 2012 holds a special place in my heart. It was our first Winter Panto presented in Boston proper, and the warm reception* we received made us feel like we had finally arrived! Considering Panto isn't a widely known form of theatre in the U.S., I was thrilled with how it was embraced, even if the full title—
Panto 2012: The Half-Baked & Hard-to-Swallow History of
HUMPTY DUMPTY; Or, One Egg is Enough!
—might have raised a few eyebrows. While Humpty Dumpty may not be as familiar as Cinderella or Jack & the Beanstalk as source material, it has a rich history in Pantomime, especially as a beloved role for the renowned Panto clown, George L. Fox. Crafting our version required a bit of creative flair, and I dove deep into the Victorian Pantos revolving around Humpty and other nursery tales to bring it to life!
Every Panto has essential elements, one of which is the prologue (usually written in verse)! This is where the Good Fairy encounters the Demon King, and the stage is set for the classic battle of good versus evil. With roots in folk theatre, mummers' plays, commedia dell'arte, and the Victorian music hall, I added a modern twist to these traditions and employed more of a free verse format in our prologue of Humpty Dumpty.
Take a moment to read it, and see if you spot the delightful echoes of Panto's rich heritage!
FOOTNOTES
* Our first Boston Panto was honored with two IRNE Award nominations! Jill Rogati (Humpty Dumpty!) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Small Theatre. & Cotton Talbot-Minkin, earned her first nomination in Best Costume Design,Small Theatre... AND COTTON TOOK HOME THE AWARD! Huzzah!
