Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
Cast members of the 2007 National Pantomime, 'Nuff An' Plenty', do a song and dance from the production at the Little Little Theatre on December 11.

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

There is a pleasant buzz around the Christmas season each year, as large numbers of persons journey to watch the first showings of the annual National Pantomime.

A tradition dating back many years, the familiar 'rags to riches, good conquers evil' tales have held audiences rapt for decades. While entertainment expands and shifts and the audiences for theatre wax and wane, Pantomime never loses its appeal. Early Boxing Day morning parents gather their children close, getting them ready for an opening evening of musical scores and lyrics, colourful costumes and family-filled messages staged by the Little Theatre Movement (LTM).

Changes with the times

Pleasing audiences young and old, uptown, downtown and 'country', the Pantomime changes with the times, mirroring the society year after year. According to director Brian Heap, Pantomime has never lost its appeal. He told The Sunday Gleaner that "Pantomimes play for full houses and theatres, sometimes up to 600 seats. That is evidence of its popularity. People look forward to Pantomime. It has grown with the society and holds a mirror up to society."

The Pantomime thrives on keeping current with society, but also strikes a balance to preserve Jamaican folklore through performance and a total theatre package. According to Anya Gloudon of the LTM, it is the cultural effect of the show that keeps people coming. "I think persons like the fact that it's a cultural thing 'cause they can carry the family to it. Pantomime works to achieve that every year."

According to Gloudon, the Pantomime draws large numbers each year, usually families that travel from far to see the show. She concludes that "People go out of their way to come; they save their money to come, as well. Even persons from abroad, as soon as they leave the plane, they stop by to pick up their box office tickets."

Heap agrees that it is the family aspect of the event that truly draws the crowd. "If you look right now at live entertainment, we don't really cater to children. There is very little else for them to go to. One of the reasons they look forward to it is that families can go to it," he said.

As long as audiences want good, clean yet educational themes, the Pantomime is there to provide, starting every Boxing Day.