Transformation scene a close with the suggestion of harmony restored. John Rich, earlier in the century, made Harlequin with his slap stick able to transform stage props; and later Joseph Grimaldi as Clown was in charge of transformations. Early pantomime related to and contained the traditional harlequinade by means of a transition in which a group of characters descended from the traditional types from the "commedia del arte" were transformed and "revealed" as being the key characters in the pantomime of the fairy tale that followed. A production in 1781 of "Robinson Crusoe" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is credited with breaking down
Pantomime dame Pantomime dame A pantomime dame is a traditional role in British pantomime. It is a continuation of "travesti" portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing. They wear big make up and big hair, have exaggerated physical features, and perform in a melodramatic style. While not from pantomime, possibly the best known of this type of character is Dame Edna Everage whose name plays on two meanings of "dame": this tradition and the title equivalent to "Sir". Characters who are