It's a bizarre and slightly humbling experience writing pantomime. Each year I start with the best intentions. 'This year' I promise myself 'it will be fresh and inventive'. Then I sit down with the synopsis which I have created and begin to flesh it out with the same gags, the same routines, the same ... well everything. I drive myself potty trying to bring something new to the table - something fresh and inventive. yet I plough on stuffing the same things in until, ultimately disgorged of panto stuff I press the key for the final full stop, convinced that I have written the same script as last year, just with different character names.
It is then when something decidedly odd happens. Between the end of writing and the beginning of re-reading the script clearly changes itself. For when I open it a few days later and start reading I realise that there is something new about this script - the characters are different from last years and although they say some of the same things, the context has changed and the words take on a slightly different life. the characters themselves assume novel proportions and they are fresh. Some are even inventive!
This year's RAPUNZEL feels fresher than most on re-reading. I loathed it whilst I was writing it though.
Funny eh?
It is then when something decidedly odd happens. Between the end of writing and the beginning of re-reading the script clearly changes itself. For when I open it a few days later and start reading I realise that there is something new about this script - the characters are different from last years and although they say some of the same things, the context has changed and the words take on a slightly different life. the characters themselves assume novel proportions and they are fresh. Some are even inventive!
This year's RAPUNZEL feels fresher than most on re-reading. I loathed it whilst I was writing it though.
Funny eh?
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