File: Pantomimedames.mp3
Pantomimedames.mp3
Playing a pantomime dame
One convention associated with pantomime is the custom for a man to play the main woman's part - the Dame. The Dame wears outrageous dresses and a wig and she is always big, busty, loud and heavily made-up, a figure of fun. The principal male part is played by a woman - the rôle is called the Principal Boy.
This is an interview with four men who have acted the 'dame' . The voices you hear when they are 'in rôle' (eg acting) are typical of the type of voices adopted for the part of the dame.
1 What adverbial phrase does the actor use meaning before the show begins, which is only used in the theatre?
2 The actors quote different amounts of time that it takes them to put their make-up on. By how much does this vary?
3 The actor suggests two typical 'characters' on whom men might create the dame they're playing - what are these?
4 Because the 'Dame' is outrageous, (s)he can take risks the actor would not normally take. What phrasal prepositional verb expresses this, here?
5 Acting a dame is often great fun for an actor. Can you give any 3 aspects of acting a dame that the men mention enjoying?
6 What paradox does one man describe?
7 What three things are quoted as constituting 'Everything a man could wish for!" (none of them being ' a woman', as implied in the dame's line!)
8 Does the actor have to act the part of a woman throughout the pantomime?
9 Do any of them say they get stage fright?
10 Can you supply 3 comments that are made about costumes?
11 What does one actor explain is physically demanding about costume-changes?
12 What was the result of acting in a pantomime for one actor?
13 How did he feel about this?
14 Can you detail some of the reasons acting a Dame is a busy part to play?
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