I'm American.  I've never seen a panto (snippets here and there on TV, but never a full production).  From what I've observed, I think it would be great to do one in the U.S.  I know panto is not part of the American Christmas tradition, but I think it could be and should be.  I'd love to sell my local theatre group on the idea for next year.

So my question is this:  What makes a good panto?  What classic elements need to be included?  Where do I find some scripts?  In other words, how do I go about doing what I think I'd like to do?

Suggestions?

There are some US groups who perform an annual panto- usually, but not always, groups with a nucleus of British ex-patriots.
So, it can be done!

If I was trying to market to a US audience unfamiliar with the concept, I would not call it a pantomime - because most people will expect silence, a form of mime and British panto is anything but silent.  I would bill it as a "family show" because it certainly is that.

The "classic elements" are really a set of possible ingredients which are mixed together to fit the needs of the particular show.
Think of it as a variety show with a plot.

The plots are usually "fairy tales" (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White...) or Tales from the Arabian Nights (Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Sinbad...)
The plots are frequently battles between good and evil, often with the mortal heroes and villains serving as proxies for immortal characters (witches, sorcerers and demons on the bad side, fairies and genies on the good side).

Comedy is an essential ingredient!  Usually in a variety of forms - verbal, physical (clowning), visual and slapstick.  (In the last case, there is often a "slop" scene with custard pies and the like.)

The action is usually interspersed with (relevant!) songs and dances.

One of the conventions of pantomime is that some of the characters break the fourth wall and talk directly to the audience.  This should be limited to specific characters (see below); if everyone talks to the audience it tends to slow the action!
Some of this is done in a ritual fashion - trying to get the audience to give particular responses - hence Joe's comments above.  So a monster creeps onto the stage and the cast ask the audience where it is.  Usually "it's behind you!"...
As with melodrama, the audience may be encouraged to hiss the villains and cheer the heroes.

Characters typically include some of the following
- A (mortal) hero (the "principal boy")
- A heroine
- A (mortal) villain (frequently like the moustachioed villain of a temperance melodrama!  The forms developed in parallel and have a lot in common.)
- A dame - a middle aged woman, frequently parent or guardian of the hero or heroine.  Frequently talks to the audience.
- A comedy link man.  A sort of "village idiot" character who talks to the audience and delivers some of the silly jokes
- A pair of incompetent villains (usually henchmen of the main villain).  Their job is to fail to do the villain's bidding, and to make fools of themselves, frequently with physical comedy.
- Immortals (as previously mentioned) who frequently speak in rhyme and frequently address the audience directly
- Pantomime creatures (two actors dressed as...) commonly a cow, a horse or, occasionally, a camel.

Cross dressing has been mentioned above.
It is not essential, but it is part of the tradition for two roles:
- The dame is frequently played by a man.  This dates back to the time (before the 17th century) where it was thought unseemly for women to appear on stage.  Think of Shakespeare...  Men playing women's roles were rarely convincing.  However, the one area where they could make good comedy was by dressing up as middle-aged women.
- The "principal boy" is frequently played by a girl.  This is largely a Victorian invention.  In those days women's figures were generally very well hidden, so there was a (small) thrill for the gentlemen in the audience seeing a girl dressed in breeches playing the part of the hero.
Neither of these is essential - if it doesn't work for you, don't do it!


Right, back to the first question: what makes a good panto?  The same things that make a good show in any genre: a good script (one that works for you), a good cast and good direction.
For newcomers, start with a title with which the audience will be familiar because that will encourage them to come along.

For scripts, then start here!