Buttons (pantomime)

Buttons is the name of a character in the Cinderella pantomime, a male servant of the household who helps Cinderella and loves her, and who is liked and trusted but not loved by her.[1] The character has sometimes been called Pedro.[2][3][4] Buttons does not appear in the Disney films.

An actor playing Buttons in a 2015 pantomime in Herne Bay, England

The character first appeared in 1860 at the Strand Theatre, London in a version of the story derived from the opera La Cenerentola by Rossini. Rossini includes a character Dandini as assistant to the Prince, which was also included, and a complementary character for Cinderella, called Buttoni was added for the pantomime at this time.[5][6] 'Buttons' was at that time a name for a young male servant or pageboy commonly having gilt buttons down the front of his jacket.[7]

While the character introduces a note of pathos in his unrequited love for Cinderella[1][8] it is often played as a comic role.[1][6]

Notable People who have played Buttons

References

  1. Brown, Richard (2002). ""When in doubt do gender": Constructing Masculinities in "Penelope," "they're all Buttons men"". Joyce Studies Annual. 13: 156–7. doi:10.1353/joy.2002.0005.
  2. "Theatricals". The Age. London. 17 November 1839.
  3. "The Drama". Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle. London. 6 October 1844.
  4. Marie, Louise (29 May 1891). "Tea Table Talk". The Dart. Birmingham.
  5. Bovey, Paul. "A Very Slippery Tale" (PDF). panto.johngood.com. John Good. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. Kaplan, Charles (1984). "The Only Native British Art Form". The Antioch Review. 42 (3): 266–276. doi:10.2307/4611362. JSTOR 4611362.
  7. "Buttons". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  8. Knowles, Elizabeth (2005). Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198609810.
  9. "Cinderella". Radio Times. 19 December 1947. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  10. Paton, Maureen (24 December 1991). "Oh yes we do love the panto!". Daily Express. London.
  11. "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 26 December 1941. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  12. Merriman, Rebecca (31 March 2016). "Ronnie Corbett dead age 85: TV comedian passes away surrounded by family". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  13. "It's Nero in drag!". Daily Mirror. London. 24 December 1976.
  14. "Star Jim brushes up his Buttons". Daily Express. London. 23 December 1988.
  15. "The Alhambra Theatre, Wellington Street, Glasgow". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  16. "Christmas Plays and pantomimes". The Times. London. 24 December 1945.
  17. "Cinderella". Radio Times. No. 325. 20 December 1929. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  18. "Cinderella". Radio Times. 24 December 1948. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  19. Clapp, Susannah (16 December 2007). "Poof! Buttons gets his man at last". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  20. Hosey, Seamus; Henderson, Lynda (1984). "The Turkey Trot". Theatre Ireland (8): 72–74. JSTOR 25488969.
  21. "Sir Harry Lauder as Buttons in 'Cinderella'". www.npg.org.uk. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  22. Hadfield, Paul; Henderson, Linda (1983). "Behind the Times..... 1953". Theatre Ireland (5): 96. JSTOR 25488895.
  23. Crossley, Mick (11 December 2008). "Great dames who trod the boards". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  24. "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 29 January 1942. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  25. "Cinderella (2000)". www.imdb.com. IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  26. "Leading a Merry Dance". The Guardian. 2 December 1995.
  27. "Cinderella". Radio Times. 18 December 1969. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  28. "Cinderella". collections.vam.ac.uk. Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  29. "Another Nod to the past- More Panto Flyers". ibygreenroom.wordpress.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2018. Tommy as Buttons (photo)
  30. Everett, Lucinda. "Cinderella, New Wimbledon Theatre, review: 'thoroughly festive'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  31. "Music Hall". Radio Times. 3 April 1936. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.