Mime and Pantomime Flashcards
Originated from
Greek east
Mime involved
Actors speaking
Pantomime involved
Silent actors
Mime
Originated in Greece
Included acrobatics, song and dance, jokes, conjuring
170BCE
Subject matter of mime
Sex, parody of town and city life, general buffoonery
Some political, others showed every day life
Plots of mimes
Kidnapping, cuckolds and lovers
Script for mimes?
Early mimes? No
1st century BCE- yes
Decimus Laberius
Knight
Born 106BCE
Scripted mimes
Publilius Syrus
Freedman from Syria
Wrote mime
Where was mime presented
On its own
Interlude of a play
Part of a public of private form of entertainment
Dinner parties (rich ppl kept their own troupe)
Props for mime
No stage
Few props and a curtain
Dogs could appear!
Actors for mime
Women could
Costume for mime
No special costume
Sometimes multi-coloured jacket
Barefoot
No masks
Politics of mime
Reflected political mood
Republic - critical
46BCE - Caesar compels Decimus to act out his own mime
Imperial- no freedom of speech
Mime criticised enemies of the emperor
Laureolus (real bandit leader who was captured crucified)
When did panto surface
During tragedy’s decline
Describe panto
Form of ballet
All parts played by 1 actor
Accompanied by musician/singer
The only way in which the common people learnt Greek myths
Panto happened in
Theatre
Other public places
Private performances
Financing panto
Wealthy patrons
Panto developed in
Eastern Mediterranean
Introduced to Rome in 22BCE during Augustus’ rule
Pylades
Panto guy From Cicilia (freedman of Augustus) Founded panto school in his name Scenes from Greek mythology (tragedy especially) Most popular
Bathyllus
Panto guy
From Alexandria
Founded panto school in his name
Comic panto
Costume for panto
Mask mouth always closed
Panto actors
Had extensive training
Low social status
Fame and popularity meant they were closely associated with the imperial family (scandal!)
Seen as sex symbols by both men and women
Fans of panto
Pantomania
Fan clubs had rivalries
14&15CE - riots- several soldiers, a centurion and a tribune left dead
So Tiberius ordered all pantos had to take place in the theatre
Unruly spectators could be exiled
