PANTO

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Conor Doyle gave a stimulating talk on the pantomime genre last evening (22/1/2020) at the Dublin City Library and Archive (DCLA) in Pearse St.

This took place, appropriately enough, in the conference room and right next door to a magnificent exhibition on the panto which I have already blogged.

The exhibition space here is a godsend which allows the archive to display some of the fascinating items in its rapidly expanding store of material.

The night was introduced by archivist Stephanie Rousseau under the watchful eye of Conor's uncle, Jimmy O'Dea. Conor brings Uncle Jimmy with him to all his talks and the old man appears to enjoy them enormously.

A significant theme running through the talk was the uniqueness of the genre.

Like the traditional court jester, once the context was firmly established you could virtually get away with murder.

What you are looking at above is a slave auction from Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. And this is a show for kids.

And then there are the gender conventions. The Principal Boy is always played by a girl ...

... and the Dame by a man.

Although the panto always has a happy ending, poor old Buttons always loses out while the Principal Boy gets the girl in the end.

And there's always the Villain, sneaking up behind people and terrifying the young audience.

Throw in a speciality act, some of the older versions of which would be unlikely to pass today's health and safety requirements.

Chuck a well known celebrity into the mix and Bob's your uncle.

Conor wondered how Mícheál Mac Liammore, shown above, might fit into such a frivolous setting?

I was tempted to intervene and say that Mícheál was a pantomime all on his own even when he was being serious. But I held me whisht.

Oh, I nearly forgot, a sprinkle of fairy dust from Conor's auntie Ursula under the watchful eye of husband, Jimmy O'Dea.

Conor Doyle

This, like the panto itself, was a highly participative excercise, with constant interjections from an enthusiastic audience.

I was glad to get in a spake for the Abbey Theatre's Irish language pantos which sadly went by the board in the 1960s.

And not forgetting the memorable videos Conor had put together.

Thank you Conor for a wonderful evening's entertainment.