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The Christmas Cavalier

Full-Length Play, Pantomime  /  5w, 7m, 1any gender (adult)

The Christmas Cavalier
by Richard Lloyd

All the traditional elements are intact in this new pantomime which is set just after the English Civil War, when the Puritan Witchfinder General is trying to stamp out Christmas jollifications and meeting spirited opposition.…

The Christmas Cavalier

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 7m, 1any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Christmas/Holiday
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary

The Witchfinder-General, Roundheads and Cavaliers in a festive panto of Olde England!

Long, long ago in Merrie England, there was a war between the King and his Parliament. The Parliament won the war, and the King lost his head…

Set in the time when Cromwell ruled England, this lively and magical panto opens with the arrival of dastardly Witchfinder-General Nicholas Grimnastyin a local village, intent on suppressing frivolous and ungodly Christmas festivities – and rooting out a few witches at the same time!

Grimnasty and his gormless Roundhead sidekicks soon tangle with the outrageous Dame Dumplings, driving force behind the village Christmas party! It’s not long before Dame Dumplings’ lovely niece Emma Sweetlyhas fallen foul of the wicked Witchfinder, and is thrown into Grimnasty’s grisly dungeon.

But the Witchfinder-General’s villainy comes to an extremely sticky end however, after his efforts to spoil Christmas are thwarted by an unlikely alliance of Sir Daniel Dash, a bold and gallant cavalier, a dancing bear named Bottom, and three real witches, who could almost have wandered in from a certain blasted Scottish heath…

A brisk yet enchanting pantomime, offering a traditional festive flavour of Olde England, but played out before a very appealing and colourful new historical backdrop, with lots of excellent opportunities for most attractive costumes and settings.

Provision is made in the script for the inclusion of seven musical numbers. More musical numbers could easily be incorporated.

Keywords

Nicholas Grimnasty, the Witchfinder General
Matthew Smallpiece,
his assistant
Obadiah Stupid,
a Roundhead trooper
Nathaniel Stupid,
also a Roundhead trooper
Dame Dumplings,
an outrageous old woman
Emma Sweetly,
her niece
Peter Farthing,
a pedlar
Bottom,
a performing bear
Sir Daniel Dash,
a bold and gallant cavalier
Village Children,
odious little oiks
Three crones,
vile snaggle-toothed hags

  • Time Period 17th Century
  • Setting Various simple settings
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Music

  • Vocal DemandsEasy
  • Chorus Size Small

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Richard Lloyd

Richard Lloyd is a history graduate of Royal Holloway College, University of London. Richard has pursued a successful 25 year career in writing and marketing and is currently head of brand with a major FTSE 100 company. He is also a professional copywriter, author and playwri ...
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