Abstract
From the cow in Jack and the Beanstalk to the cat in Dick Whittington and goose in Mother Goose, animals are central characters in many pantomime narratives adapted for the stage from fairy and folktales. This article charts the evolution of the pantomime skin role, from the Victorian practice of specialist animal performers in costumes made from natural materials, to today’s bipedal walking, talking, comedic creatures who constitute fairy-tale best friends and family members. Paying particular attention to key practitioners and their costumes, I explore how pantomimes, and through them fairy tales, capture, embed, and disseminate changing ideas about human and animal relationships.
Recommended Citation
Sladen, Simon. "There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat: Animal Impersonation on the Pantomime Stage." Marvels & Tales 38.2 (2025). Web. <https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/marvels/vol38/iss2/5>.
