Does anyone else love panto?

I am hooked on it after seeing just one (Peter Pan at Richmond)! I live in London and it's my impression that tons of theatres (big and small) put on panto during holiday season. Does anyone have tips on which ones to see...like is there one theatre that always put on the very best? Or is there a famous panto in another city that I *must* see?

Also, out of curiosity, does anyone know why panto never caught on in the U.S.? It reminded me of the Aladdin show at Disneyland (hilarious with jokes for kids and adults), but still clearly not panto.

Thanks!

out of curiosity, does anyone know why panto never caught on in the U.S.?

A small theatre company in RI did a Christmas panto back when I lived there and people seemed to really like it! The director was a Brit.

I cannot for the life of me understand panto. My accountant is a cross dresser and he is in no way humorous, probably the driest person I have ever met.

I love it!! Our big one is a pretty big production, but there are lot of smaller community companies that put them on too.

I can't for the life of me explain it though. It's one of those 'You have to see it to understand it' types of things.

I was travelling in Ireland for work just before Christmas and I had some US co-workers with me.  I was trying to explain the panto, but couldn't really.  They were staying a few extra days in Ireland and they went to see the panto for something interesting to do.  They told me they LOVED it as well.  (We also had meals out and the resturants had the crackers and all that on the table, as we had booked the tables, they had assumed it was Christmas meals.  The US folks loved the crackers and the hats and prizes.) 

I cannot for the life of me understand panto. My accountant is a cross dresser and he is in no way humorous, probably the driest person I have ever met.

It's not so much about cross-dressing being humourous (after all, in Shakespeare's time, women weren't allowed to act in the theatre, so young boys played the female roles), it's just more that it's one part of the whole tradition of pantomime.

Pantomime tells the story of a traditional fairy tale while also incorporating catchphrases, slapstick comedy, dancing, modern pop culture references and most importantly, audience participation.

The main roles are usually played by either sex, but traditionally, the principal boy or girl is played by a woman, as is their love interest; while the hero's mother (Panto Dame) is played by a man. But the gender swapping doesn't really have any significance other than that it's the tradition of pantomime... most people are more interested in the celebrity guests playing these roles, and the fun of attending the pantomime, than the fact that they are cross-dressing.

Even as I write this, I have the phrases 'He's behind you!' and 'Oh, yes he is!' running through my head... and I haven't been to a panto in years !