Word: panto
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...those living outside Britain, the pantomime (or panto for short) can seem like a bizarre, and perhaps inappropriate, Christmas tradition. In the shows, theater companies take popular children's stories such as Aladdin, Cinderella and Snow White and spice them up with audience participation, cross-dressing, double entendres, sexual innuendo and deliberately hammy acting. Big stars have become a staple of the most lucrative shows in recent years - Henry Winkler, a.k.a. the Fonz, is currently starring as Captain Hook in a pantomime of Peter Pan in Liverpool, following in the footsteps of actors like Steve Guttenberg and Mickey Rooney. When...
...Juliette Binoche, Marisa Tomei and Christina Applegate, had actually been nervous about their turns, worried that directors and executives might judge their thespian skills on these fun moments. Molina, Joffe and Rush come from British and Australian stock, and seemed to recognize the moments for what they are - "panto," the tradition of Christmas pantomime. James Woods is gloriously shameless, or perhaps recognizes the American equivalent, which is the way that Johnny Carson would portray Carnak the Magnificent. It's not about the script, just the fun of hamming it up for the audience...
...doesn't seem to appreciate this particular art form is "Politically Incorrect" host Bill Maher. "Where are the stars?" he demands, apparently not seeing a high enough quotient. I enquire his views about the light panto on stage. "It's terrible," he opines. "I mean, I could get James Woods to wear a dress!" Since, on the face of it, this runs contrary to his long-established reputation, I leave the remark dangling. James Woods held a different perspective. "How did they get you to do it?" I asked him. "Easy," he explains. "They phoned up and asked...