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I'm a Lady ?!?

Traditionally, the Dame in pantomime should be played by a man dressed as a woman because this mocks the stereotypical feminine obsession with beauty. Cross-dressing should be included to provide comic relief for the audience. Drag characters traditionally have extravagant entrances, which are usually followed by rapturous applause (much like those of Edna Turnblad in the musical version of Hairspray).
The Dame is also known for wearing outrageous costumes, and these are often used to good comic effect.

Naughty Victorians

It was a display of female sexiness back in the Victorian times when women usually wore long flowing skirts. It was meant to indulge the male members of the audience.

The Dame is also a character is usually portrayed as oldish, unattractive and fairly common… all qualities which Claire Sweeney does not possess (luckily for her!).

Preservation

It seems that it is unfashionable for a woman to play a man in pantomimes nowadays.

But I still think that this is a tradition worth preserving at The Regent Theatre. Why should this theatre be any different to others? Why should we let traditions die?

I previously wrote to The Regent Theatre enquiring of why the role of Principal Boy was being played by a man. They did not reply.

Tradition

It also seems weird to me that The Regent Theatre is getting rid of pantomime tradition at a time when drag roles are extremely popular.
Michael Ball is currently getting standing ovations in London for his portrayal of Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray.
Drag artist Vanity Case has been popular with the crowds at the Stoke’s Got Talent auditions. He got a standing ovation even before he took to the stage in the heats. People were having their pictures taken with him and he seemed to be the most popular person there. I saw a little girl touching his hair and jewellery in fascination. This is the magic that children deserve.

Taking the biscuit…

I was also very shocked to hear that street dancing would be included in the pantomime. This is also very untraditional and it seems that the producers are doing all they can to ensure that the pantomime is a ‘modern’ success.     ….Even if this means getting rid of what makes a pantomime, well, a pantomime.