It’s Panto season — a holiday tradition beloved by those in Great Britain. But Panto plays aren’t as familiar to audiences here.
However, these plays have found a home at City Theatre (Sacramento City College) thanks to the creative team of Christine Nicholson and Luther Hanson, who have written and produced a number of Pantos over the last 18 years; and they are getting ready to stage this year’s Panto, “The Nutcracker.”
So, what exactly is a Panto? Formally, a Panto is a British comedic and musical theatrical play, typically performed at Christmas and based on fairy tales or nursery rhymes.
There are other aspects in the traditional Panto, such as a cast that includes a narrator, a hero, a villain, a baddie, a king, a queen, a prince and a princess. Additionally, these plays will include gender-role reversals, live music, lots of innuendos and funny skits.
Panto is also unique in that it breaks the fourth wall when the narrator talks directly to the audience to ask for their participation, and the story is written to entertain both children and adult audiences.
Nicholson, an actress, director, playwright and theater professor at Sacramento City College and Sacramento State, says it’s hard to define, but explains that Panto began about 200 years ago in England as a way for smaller theaters to stage holiday plays that combine music, dance and comedy while avoiding licensing agreements.
“It’s now the most popular holiday play in Great Britain, even more so than ‘A Christmas Carol’,” she said. “They are musical parodies of fairy tales, myths and legends. And the nice thing about Pantos is that it’s performed on two different levels — it’s not just bringing children to a kids’ program. The adults really get involved as well.”
Nicholson was so intrigued by the first Panto she stumbled upon with her husband, Hanson, 20 years ago in Belfast, that she wanted to bring it to local audiences. Since 2007, Nicholson and Hanson — who is also a theater professor, actor, writer and director — have written and produced a dozen original Pantos.
The majority have been staged at City Theatre, and a few at the Black Box Theatre in West Sacramento, with a break from all performances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first one they produced was “Snow White” back in 2007.
“I was scared to pitch it to Sacramento City College because Panto was virtually unknown here. But the advantage is that by writing it, there were no royalty costs. And students could act in them,” Nicholson said.
Since then, they have done Pantos of “Peter Pan,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Aladdin,” “Mother Goose,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Moby Dick,” “Little Women,”” Robin Hood” and “A Christmas Carol.”
According to Nicholson, both she and Hanson contribute to the writing. They agree on the subject, sometimes fairy tales and other times classic books. And then Nicholson starts with the research, the overall structure and lyric writing. Hanson provides the humor, and both work on the script, the dialogue and the production. When finished, Hanson takes on the role of director.
Nicholson has a unique way of concentrating on her writing. “I take the train to Emeryville for an hour and a half, wait for two hours at the station, then back home — all the while writing on my computer.”
This season’s Panto of “The Nutcracker” is in its final stages. Actors — primarily students — have been cast. Choreography has been determined. Costumes and staging are in place, and rehearsals, led by Hanson, have begun. Then, it’s showtime.
“There is such a wonder when you finally get to see the play come together and watch the audience reactions,” Nicholson said. “When the kids boo the villain, when parents become kids again, when the narrator interacts with the audience. And after the show, to find out some of the parents were young audience members and now are taking their kids to see the show.”
“The Nutcracker” plays Nov. 21 to Dec. 14; Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. at Art Court Theatre in the Performing Arts Center at Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Blvd.
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.
By Patti Roberts
