Pantomime
MIME vs. PANTOMIME:
Similarities
• Communicate by gesturing, or acting without
words
• Actors portray characters and scenes through
facial expressions and body language that the
audience can easily understand.
MIME vs. PANTOMIME:
Differences
• Comes from the Greek word “mimesis” which
means “to imitate an activity.”
– Main activity is movement and it’s content deals
with complex meanings and forces of life.
• Pantomime comes from the Latin word
“pantomimus” which means “ all gestures
used in support of a theme.”
– Revolves around character and plot, using
imaginary props and people to tell a story.
MIME vs. PANTOMIME:
Differences
• Pantomime- simple, chronological story lines
• Mime – complex story lines based on theme,
illusion, and plot which requires a higher level
of communication between the actor and
audience
Definitions
Mime – the silent art of using body movements
to create an illusion of reality
Pantomime- the use of mime techniques, acting
without words, to tell a story
Pantomime Tips
• Requires concentration on details in
movements and expression
• SHOW, do not tell, what is happening
• Communicate clearly by using
– Simplicity
– Accuracy
– Consistency
– Exaggeration
Pantomime Tips
• Make actions clear and exact so that observers
are never in doubt
• Every movement an audience sees should be
well planned and prepared (like dance
choreography)
Preparing a Story for Pantomime
• Must be SIMPLE
– Do not cloud the story with too many details
• Must have 3 parts
• BEGINNING: Introduction- introduces
character
• MIDDLE: Conflict- establishes problem
• END: Resolution – solves the problem
Practicing/Presenting Pantomime
• Accuracy in movements make it believable
and understandable
• Consistency keeps all items in the pantomime
the same size, shape, weight and in the same
place
• Exaggeration makes the actions bigger than
life which helps the audience see action more
clearly
To achieve clarity
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Practice the following
Focus, reach, take, accent, and release
Focus- visualize the item
Reach- approach the item
Take- establish space that the item is in
Accent – show size, shape, weight, temperature
and any other detail that will help the audience
understand what it is
• Release – finish using the object and discard it
appropriately.
Activity #1
Character Walk
• Everyone participates
• Class puts ways to move across the room on
the board.
• Students begin walking normally around the
room without touching each other
• Teacher calls out a way to move and students
change their movement to match
Activity #2
Object Focus and Detail
• Class creates a list of small objects
• An item is called out and students visualize
using the object.
• One student from the table then acst out
using the object using their visualization as a
base line
• Students from table evaluate the clarity of the
action and make suggestions for improvement
Activity #3
Where are you?
• Class makes a list of places people go
• 1st volunteer secretly chooses one of the places listed.
• Volunteer imagines all the senses that make him/her aware
of that place.
• Volunteer begins acting out where s/he is
• When others think they understand where the 1st volunteer
is, they raise a hand volunteering to act out being in that
place as well. Teacher will choose 3-4 students to join the
pantomime of that place.
• At the end the 1st volunteer reveals the place and the other
players and audience evaluate the actions that led the
other players to end up in the same place or a different
place.
Activity #4
How are you feeling?
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Table activity
Class makes a list of emotions.
Table establishes order of participation.
1st person secretly chooses and emotion and
visualizes what it looks like when they feel this
way (posture, gestures, and facial expression).
Then act out the emotion.
• Table attempts to guess the emotion.
• Table evaluates clearer ways to show the
emotion.
Activity #5
Scenes for Pantomime:
Procedure
• Small group activity (4-5)
• Group chooses a common location. (ex. park)
• Group lists SIMPLE problems that could occur in that
location. (ex. gum stuck to shoe)
• Each person in the group selects ONE problem to
pantomime in that location. Group decides
performance order. Group decides on a creative title
that does not give away the location.
• Each person writes a detailed story line for their simple
problem using SAMPLE as a guideline. MAY NOT USE
OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR STORY LINE– THIS IS SOLO.
Activity #5
Scenes for Pantomime
Rehearsal and Performance
• Each movement in the pantomime should be planned,
practiced and clear to the audience. Like making dance
steps.
• Students practice individually.
• Students show the members of their group and group
evaluates ways to improve believability and clarity.
• Group practices the scene in order.
• Group performs for the class.
• Class tries to guess location and the problems that
occurred in the location.
Activity #5
CHARACTER VARIATION
• Group chooses a common location.
• Group makes a list of people that would be in that
location.
• Group makes a list of SIMPLE problems that occur in
that location. Group decides on a creative title that
does not give away the characters or location.
• Each student chooses a different character and
problem to pantomime. Each person writes a detailed
story line for their simple problem using SAMPLE as a
guideline. MAY NOT USE OTHER STUDENTS IN THEIR
STORY LINE– THIS IS SOLO.