Theatre Artists Studio presents FATHER CHRISTMAS and THE SNOW QUEEN

British playwright and mystery novelist Rupert Holmes describes a panto as "Part commedia dell'arte, part music hall, and part kiddie show...a panto is to legitimate theatre what the British dish of trifle is to a respectable dessert."

Pantomimes make use of traditional conventions that often appear, such as a principal boy, a Dame (usually played by a man in drag,) audience participation, rewritten lyrics, actors in animal skins, a good fairy, a villain, and often quite a bit of slapstick comedy. Informally known simply as "pantos" in England and other countries, since they are very rarely performed in the United States, they are usually mistaken for mime.

Studio member Alan Austin shares Holmes' love for the panto form. Austin fell in love with the panto as a boy growing up in England when his family attended performances of pantos every Christmas. "It was a family outing and was always fun and exciting," says Austin. "I in turn took my children."

Decades later he wrote his first panto, Aladdin, while serving as a cultural advisor to the government of Singapore. It was loosely based on the classic tale. "The plot lines are very simple," explains Austin. "You just take the classical storyline and bend it to suit your actors or situation. You write in topical jokes so there's an adult level as well as the children's level." He notes that the scripts usually take two to three months to complete. He wrote five while in Singapore. One of them, Father Christmas and the Snow Queen, has been updated and modified for Arizona audiences and will be presented at The Studio from December 1 through December 17.

Like so many pantos, this show is a takeoff of a classical story line bent to suit the actors or situation. For the children, it is a fantasy story about overcoming wicked forces (the evil Snow Queen and her Hench cats). They are allowed to participate and affect the action and will enjoy animated characters such as the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe and life-sized toys in the magical Toyland. For the adults, part of the fun is watching their children, as well as appreciating some of the asides and topical jokes.

Father Christmas and the Snow Queen is a holiday adventure with music and dance suitable for the entire family.

Theatre Artists Studio presents Father Christmas and the Snow Queen from December 1-17 at The Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Show times are Fridays at 7:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm.

Tickets are $25 for General Admission; $20 for Groups of 10 or More, Seniors 65 & Over and Members of the Military and $15 for Children and Students age 25 & Under. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 602-765-0120 or visit: www.thestudiophx.org/tickets.