Pantomime (redirected from pantomimic)

pantomime or mime (păn`təmīm) [Gr.,=all in mimic], silent form of the drama in which the story is developed by movement, gesture, facial expression, and stage properties. It is known to have existed among the Chinese, Persians, Hebrews, and Egyptians and has been observed in many other cultures. Pantomime was popular in ancient Rome, where it was often explained by songs or simple action. The traditional characters of pantomime take their origin in the Italian commedia dell'arte of the 16th cent. English pantomime, originated by John Rich, was more pageant than pantomime, and in 1818, when J. R. Planche began his extravaganzas with "speaking openings," pantomime in England became a dramatic spectacle with songs and speeches. Joseph Grimaldi and Jean Gaspard Deburau were famous pantomime stars of the 19th cent. In silent pictures, Charlie Chaplin made his name as a great pantomime actor. Marcel Marceau has been the leading artist in France.

Bibliography

See C. Aubert, Art of Pantomime (1927, repr. 1969); J. Lawson, Mime (1957, repr. 1973).

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pantomime

1. (in Britain)

a. a kind of play performed at Christmas time characterized by farce, music, lavish sets, stock roles, and topical jokes

b. (as modifier): a pantomime horse

2. a theatrical entertainment in which words are replaced by gestures and bodily actions

3. (in ancient Rome) an actor in a dumb show

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Pantomime 

a form of theatrical entertainment in which gesture, facial mimicry, and flexible, expressive body movements are the principal means utilized by the actor to create his role.

The art of pantomime originated in ancient Greece and Rome. In the Middle Ages such performers as the histrion and jongleur made use of pantomime; the art flourished again in the Italian commedia dell’arte of the mid-16th to 18th centuries. In the 19th century, J. Grimaldi of Great Britain and J.-B. G. Deburau of France, the creator of the famous stock character of Pierrot, developed pantomime as an independent form of theater.

In the last third of the 19th century, pantomime was performed chiefly in music halls. In France the Marseille school, headed by L. Rouffe, was founded, and in Great Britain pantomime was performed by D. Leno, Little Tich, and by F. Kar-no’s company, in which C. Chaplin began his career. In the early 20th century, pantomime was utilized extensively by such outstanding German directors as M. Reinhardt. Since the 1930’s the most famous mimes have been J.-L. Barrault and M. Marceau of France, L. Fialka of Czechoslovakia, and H. Tomaszew-ski of Poland.

In Russia pantomime was used in many folk plays, folk rituals, and skomorokh (folk actor) performances. In the 19th century it was performed at show booths and circuses. Between 1910 and 1920 pantomime was utilized by the directors K. A. Mardzhanov, N. N. Evreinov, A. Ia. Tairov, and V. E. Meyer-hold.

A special type of pantomime, accompanied by rhythmic music and singing, has been widespread since ancient times in India, Indonesia, and other Asian countries.

Modern pantomime comprises the art of mime, which is performed by one actor, and presentations with all the features of a theatrical performance. In Soviet pantomime both these types have been developed.

REFERENCE

Rumnev, A. O pantomime: Teatr, kino. Moscow, 1964.