Should The Government Consider Reintroducing A Role...

[sandyRoe]

...that the Lord Chancellor used to perform?

I'm thinking of theatre censorship as the pantomime season approaches.  What harm has been done to generations of  children watching attractive young women playing the male hero, usually wearing tights and engaging in lots of thigh slapping?

Then there are the men in drag.  Need I say more?

What was considered an innocent family treat could have undermined the very fabric of our society.

[naomi24]

Have you considered buying a new wooden spoon, sandyRoe.  Your usual one is wearing a bit thin.

[Old_Geezer]

Pantomime is understood to be folk just messing about for laughs. I doubt any censorship would be considered necessary.

[Ken4155]

It's the ones who identify as a horse's rear end that i worry about, Sandy.

[sandyRoe]

I've dropped hints and am hoping to get at least one in my Christmas stocking.

Seriously, there's a thread running about informing children about some of the behaviour adults engage in.

We are what we are and education may enlighten us, but it won't change us.

[Auntypoll]

I agree Sandy. Every xmas I came out of the panto totally confused as to my gender. 🤣🤣🤣

[sandyRoe]

There's a comic song about a chap telling a friend that he's now an actor.  He asks that his friend not tell his family what he's doing, but if he lets it slip not to tell them he's playing the rear end of a pantomime horse.

I looked but can't find it.

[New Judge]

"Need I say more?"

Only if you must!  😀

[ToraToraTora]

Oh no they won't 😁

[sandyRoe]

Some things are best left unsaid.

I'll close my contribution to this thread with this thought.

What impact would seeing Chris Biggins playing Widow Twanky have on impressionable young minds?

[douglas9401]

Head prefect (girls) ignores her own advice on lemons, refusing to enter into the spirit.

[douglas9401]

"What impact would seeing Chris Biggins playing Widow Twanky have on impressionable young minds?"

One of the Yorkshire Biggins'?

[sandyRoe]

I'm not picking on Mr Biggins in particular.  He has to earn a crust.

There are other pantomime dames avail and you could probably see them weave their magic over the Xmas season.

[Hopkirk]

What about Punch and Judy? A good light hearted story of domestic abuse 

[Old_Geezer]

And how you should treat any nosey coppers who turn up.

[sandyRoe]

Animal abuse too.  The poor crocodile.

[naomi24]

Douglas, I know I've asked you this before, but I'll ask again.  Are you a woman?

 

sandyRoe, I've seen Christopher Biggins in panto,  He's very good at it - and the children loved him.

[sandyRoe]

This was intended as a light hearted, slightly ironic, thread.

I'm not criticising Mr Biggins or any other actor.

If I'm saying anything here it is that children won't be influenced to make life changing decisions about themselves by what they see on the stage, or read in an 'unsuitable' book.

[Peter Pedant]

Have you considered buying a new wooden spoon - - - He asks some very relevant questions.

and the Sound of Music is full of Nazis  - how unmimsy !

and Mel Brooks' The producers, has the surprise hit - Springtime for Hitler - I have never hears of such anti-semitism

and naughty PP !

In 1843 the Licensing Act was dropped, enabling other theatres to present drama, although Lord Chamberlain's censorship of plays remained in place until 1968.

er that last bit for ABers was the Lord Chancellor didnt do theatre censorship(*) but the Lord High Chamberlain - 

too busy tapping wiggies  on the shoulder and saying they should be QCs AND acting as a speaker in the House of Lords ( and being a Law Lord on the law committee of the Privy Council - no I am not going to explain that one) - good satire of Hailsham LC on Rumpole. 1970

[Peter Pedant]

This was intended as a light hearted, slightly ironic, thread. - no Sandz missed a one-liner there

The irony is : it was intended as a light hearted, slightly ironic, thread.

Hey this all started around 1745 when the Prime Minister was criticised on Stage ( walpole) - in the Beggar's Opera, Rich and Gay

of whom it was said - [The success] made Mr Gay, rich and Mr Rich, gay !

sozza: some threads suffer from fact-starvation

[sandyRoe]

Ah yes, the Lord Chamberlain.  Forgive me, my memory isn't what it once was.

I do remember reading about a proposed script change from him.

He blue pencilled the line, '...the dirt on the tail of his shirt' and suggested 'the dirt on the front of his shirt ', would be acceptable.