Customer Reviews

The Pantomime Book: The Only Known Collection of Pantomime Jokes and Sketches in Captivity

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Paul Harris's 140 page book is a serious tease. It is exactly what the archivists and enthusiasts want, although, as both, I would have wanted something ten times the size. How could we ever capture the ether of pantomime set pieces?
Harris has done a fine job of putting these sketches both into print and into context. Without his work, we would certainly have lost the jokes at which 1,000,000 people per annum laugh. For your information, we are talking about some seriously old jokes here, including one from the 1670s. That's pantomime for you!

His modest aim has been to take the unwritten humour of Dan Leno and Jack Tripp and capture it for those of us who have been brought up in and around pantomimes. The result is a series of sketches and comedy routines which look good on paper but, I promise you, look fantastic on stage.

If ever you want to find a routine for a piece of slapstick, traditional pantomime or children's theatre, look no further. Paul, howzabout a second edition with lots more?

Finally, I'd like to use the WWW to apologise publicly to my commuting companions who must have thought me two sandwiches short of a picnic whilst reading this book on the train each morning. I know, for sure, that it got me to work a happier and jollier person. Oh yes, it did!

The only known collection of Pantomime Jokes and sketches in captivity?

Oh, no it isn't!