Widow twankey
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Press Packs
Get ready to boo and hiss, CBeebies' presenter Andy Day is pulling on his baddie cloak to play evil Abanazar in the CBeebies Christmas Pantomime.
Here he talks about his first panto experience and why his mum cooks the best Christmas dinner in the world.
What can CBeebies' viewers expect from this year's panto?
A great laugh, a Christmassy feel, amazing costumes and a fantastic set.
Tell us about your character.
Abanazar is the greedy one and all he wants is power. He just wants to get hold of the lamp so he can have his wishes and become the most powerful magician in the universe. So he uses Aladdin to get the lamp for him and attempts to take over the world. He's really not a very nice character.
Can you describe your outfit?
My costume is very big and very cloaky. It's dark, mysterious and greedy – a big symbol of my character.
What do you love about pantomime?
Panto caters for everyone – kids, adults and stuff for people who don't normally come to the theatre. There's a magical story there but it's very spontaneous and you never know what's goi
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Abanazar (pantomime)
Abanazar is a magician and the primary antagonist in the Aladdinpantomime. He was also the basis for Jafar in the Disney version of Aladdin.[1]
History
The character first appeared in the harlequinadeAladin in 1788 as 'The African Magician', but was given the name Abanazer in 1813 in Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp at Covent Garden Opera House in 1813, described as 'A New Melo-Dramatick Romance', and revived in 1826. Other names which have been used for the character are Mourad, Abel el Nesir, Kiradamac, Abanazac and Hocus Pocus. It was with Henry James Byron's Aladdin or the Wonderful Scamp in 1861 that the modern pantomime took form and the character was essentially established. Byron added burlesque (as can be seen by the name parodying the earlier opera) so the character is evil but played for laughs.[2]
Some notable people who have played Abanazer
References
- ^"Aladdin - the story behind the panto". www.octagon-theatre.co.uk. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^Clinton-Baddeley,
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Evil Enters From the Left: On Pantomime and the Classic Stage
“Give me the lamp, boy!”
Article continues after advertisementMy grandfather’s voice was quiet, which was more frightening than if he’d shouted. He moved towards me, one hand stretched out, his shadow making fantastical shapes on the wall.
“Give me the lamp…”
This isn’t a shocking story of abuse, though it is a Grimm’s fairy tale of sorts. My grandfather was an actor and he was famous for playing Abanazar in the pantomime, Aladdin. In real life Grandad was a lovely, soft-spoken man but, in character, his darkly handsome face could easily be made up to look villainous. It was a great bedtime treat for him to act out this scene for me and my sisters. On stage it would be even more frightening, with green smoke billowing and fire-crackers concealed in Abanazar’s copious sleeves.
“Give me the lamp.” Crack of thunder. Roll of drums.
Article continues after advertisementThe baddie, or Demon King, in panto has a long and interesting history. The word pantomime comes from the Roman word, pantomimus: pa
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