A Right Old Pantomime For Pamela Anderson
Baywatch Star Signed Up For Christmas In London
Nov 1, 2009
The 42-year-old sometime actress will be making her panto debut in Aladdin, taking on the role of the Genie of the Lamp for a two-week stint in December. She will be joined by Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed at the New Wimbledon theatre, and will be in London over the Christmas period. Ticket sales at the theatre are reportedly up 800%, with Anderson’s continued popularity in the UK – possibly amongst the dads – a key factor.
Anderson Admits Panto IgnoranceShe has admitted to knowing nothing about the genre in the UK press, with pantomime being a long-standing British tradition incorporating musical-comedy theatrical production, performed during the Christmas and New Year period. A popular form of family entertainment, shows are based on popular traditional children’s stories while the appearance of well-known stars are usually incorporated into the script.
Big Pay-Day For Star Names
Panto has seen a big increase in popularity in recent years in the UK, with some of the biggest showbusiness names being increasingly attracted to unglamorous locations during the winter months by the lure of a decent pay-day – Anderson will reportedly earn around £50,000 for her two-week stint.
American Stars Performing In The UK
With the popularity of Australian soaps in decline in the UK, the love of American television shows is key to attracting many British audiences in recent times, with Henry Winkler, AKA The Fonz from Happy Days, also doing the rounds this Christmas playing in Liverpool in Peter Pan.
Last year Mickey Rooney, Steve Guttenburg and Charlene Tilton - Lucy Ewing in Dallas - appeared, while David Hasselhoff and Mr T have also made appearances in recent years. It’s not just a number of non-acting celebs who have appeared. The much-respected actor Sir Ian McKellan, famous for playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, featured in Aladdin in the mid-2000s.
Names For 2009/10
Names from all walks of entertainment have tread the boards. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno has been a staple performer even during his boxing career, as have a string of soap stars from the UK and overseas, comedians and sports people. This year's list includes British personalities such as comedian Joe Pasquale and dancer Ray Quinn in Birmingham, soap couple Kara Tointon and Joe Swash in Bristol, and – as he'll no doubt be introduced – "The One And Only" Chesney Hawkes in Grimsby.
Biggins - Panto Legend
Much loved in the UK, actor Christopher Biggins was a pantomime dame for 38 consecutive years until 2007, when his appearance on the hit UK television show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! made audiences deem him unable to appear. He will be in Plymouth over the festive season.
Insurance For Success?
Some cynics would suggest it's all about the money rather than the art, and it's hard to disagree when it recently emerged that a toy dog named Churchill, used as the acceptable face of insurance in an ongoing high-profile advertising campaign Britain, will appear at various venues. But as long as the shows keep families entertained over the festive period, should we mind?
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