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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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pantomime
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Traditional theatrical entertainment for the Christmas season, an important element in every provincial theatre's finances. Pantomimes became popular in Britain in the 18C. They derived from the Italian commedia dell'arte, but added a new central character in *Harlequin and made much use of stage machinery for elaborate transformation scenes. The modern pantomime emerged during the 19C, when the most important characters became the dame (a comic elderly female performed by a man) and the principal boy (the 'male' romantic lead, played by an actress wearing a close-fitting tunic and tights).
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A limited number of fairy stories and oriental tales have become the favourite vehicles to accommodate a succession of largely irrelevant routines and topical jokes (now for the most part deriving from television). Among the most popular are *Aladdin, *Cinderella, *Jack and the Beanstalk, *Puss in Boots and Dick *Whittington.
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