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Original poster

Have pantomines always been so adult?

72 replies

EachandEveryone · 09/12/2023 23:33

Peter Pan to be precise. Ive just got back with my sister and 10 year old nephew. Julian Clary now, I saw him at an AIDs benefit in the 90’s and I love him but honestly theres a time and a place for every thing but this was a Xmas day out. His costumes were out of this world and he did a lovely tribute to Paul O Grady however all the bumming and rimming jokes? Being shafted by ten pirates and there may or may not have been a fisting one thrown in.. Its a great panto but so many gay fairy jokes my nephew looked flummoxed, my sister had a face like stone and I was snorting in my sleeve because in a show after afew drinks he probably would be very funny.

OP posts:
Original poster
EachandEveryone · 09/12/2023 23:34

Ps I think they were half cooked there was a hell of alot of adlibbing in there 😃

OP posts:
Zonder · 09/12/2023 23:34

Yes. When we were kids I think most of it went over our heads.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 09/12/2023 23:38

Yes.

what has changed is the age of the children that understand what's really being said.

when we, well I, were 10 it all woukd have sailed 20ft over my head, now 10 year olds know SO much.

it makes uncomfortable viewing with a child in my book.

CharityShopChic · 09/12/2023 23:44

They’re not all like that. We went to the Panto in Glasgow last year and there were some cheeky political jokes mostly at Boris Johnson’s expense and a couple of mild innuendo but nothing on that level.

Daffyyellow · 09/12/2023 23:54

Some are more adult than others. Also did you attend the Saturday evening performance? Some also vary the content for the evening performances.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 09/12/2023 23:55

no this was the day to a packed house. It was very funny I just think he was abit much and so dated really.

OP posts:
ITSSSSCHRISTMASSS · 09/12/2023 23:57

In a nutshell yes. Some worse than others but ultimately they have always been this way. As others said it went above our heads, same with game show hosts and other tv viewing in the past.

I hate taking my DDs, not taken them for years, they see one through school but I’m not interested in them.

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/12/2023 23:57

Usually on two levels, if they’re written well most children won’t cotton on.

LBFseBrom · 09/12/2023 23:59

EachandEveryone · 09/12/2023 23:33

Peter Pan to be precise. Ive just got back with my sister and 10 year old nephew. Julian Clary now, I saw him at an AIDs benefit in the 90’s and I love him but honestly theres a time and a place for every thing but this was a Xmas day out. His costumes were out of this world and he did a lovely tribute to Paul O Grady however all the bumming and rimming jokes? Being shafted by ten pirates and there may or may not have been a fisting one thrown in.. Its a great panto but so many gay fairy jokes my nephew looked flummoxed, my sister had a face like stone and I was snorting in my sleeve because in a show after afew drinks he probably would be very funny.

Pantomimes have always been like that, full of double entendres. Young kids don't understand, just think it's funny, adults do understand and often think it is funny in a different way. It is harmless enough so don't worry.

gotomomo · 10/12/2023 00:36

Always been packed with double entendres and a bit close to the wire though you would not have got gay jokes until relatively recently.

LoreleiG · 10/12/2023 00:45

Yes they have. But some pull it off better than others.

LinguisticallyCunning · 10/12/2023 01:29

Yes. That's part of what makes it fun.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 10/12/2023 09:59

yes it was funny if you’d never seen him before

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 10/12/2023 10:01

To be fair, Julian Clary is going to push the jokes to the limit. Far more than a small town theatre group would risk.

asplashofmilk · 10/12/2023 10:03

Yes it's very much in the tradition of panto - they are as much for adults as children if done well.

FrenchandSaunders · 10/12/2023 10:03

Palladium? It’s well known to be very near the mark.

BeerGarden · 10/12/2023 10:03

We love the Palladium one, it is filth but most of it goes over the kids heads. I love the costumes and the flamboyancy, we are going to watch it later this week and I can’t wait.

museumum · 10/12/2023 10:06

I’ve not been to panto in decades but even I’ve picked up that Julian clary’s one is the most risqué. Apparently the boy George one in much more “family friendly”

OdeToBarney · 10/12/2023 10:09

I don't know, I haven't been in about 25 years....but I'm going to Dick Whittington later, so I'll let you know. Also taking my nephew (11)!

LycheeBaby · 10/12/2023 10:13

A lot of theatres do a slightly less risqué version for the matinee and a more adult one for the evening show.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 10/12/2023 10:13

I saw Julian in panto years ago in Bristol and it was the first panto I'd seen as an adult. Had a similar omg were pantos always this rude reaction. The answer from my parents was a resounding yes.

FionnulaTheCooler · 10/12/2023 10:18

megletthesecond · 10/12/2023 10:01

To be fair, Julian Clary is going to push the jokes to the limit. Far more than a small town theatre group would risk.

I don't know. I saw a small amdram group's panto production this year and there were a couple of jokes that I thought were pushing the limits a bit, one about group sex, another about cannabis farming, and a few double entendres relating to penis size. I doubt many of the kids in attendance would have understood though and it's the first time I've been to panto in years so I genuinely can't remember if it was always like this.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 10/12/2023 10:18

We used to go to a lot with our kids and there was far less of this. I think it's par for the course with Clary though. I'd have picked an alternative with younger ones. Not that I dislike him.

CatSighs · 10/12/2023 10:33

I was shocked at the panto we went to last year. I don't mind a few polical jokes and a bit of double entendre, but I really dislike the jokes about extreme sexual practices. We have (early) teens as well as younger DC and the teens definitely would understand the sex references. I think pushing the envelope like this, the creeping normalisation in every sphere of practices that would have been considered niche a few ears ago, is really damaging for children. Jokes about rimming and fisting belong in a drag show, not a pantomime billed as family entertainment.

We're going to the ballet this year instead!

Floralnomad · 10/12/2023 10:37

If I was going to a Panto with Julian Clary in it I would imagine it would be quite ‘adult’ .