Dandini is a character in the opera La Cenerentola by Rossini and also in the Cinderella pantomime. He is the male servant of the Prince (the principal male character: Don Ramiro in the opera, commonly Prince Charming in the pantomime). Dandini helps the Prince to meet the principal female character (known as Angelina or Cinderella) without her knowing that he is a prince. Dandini pretends to be the prince and the real prince pretends to be his servant.[1][2][3]
In panto it is often played by a young woman, who dresses similarly to the Principal boy for the identity swap.[4]
Notable people who have played Dandini
[edit]Opera
[edit]Pantomime
[edit]- Julian Clary[9]
- Florrie Forde[10]
- Stephen Gately[11]
- Pat Kirkwood[12]
- Gertrude Lawrence (as Alexandra Dagmar)[13]
- Alice Lloyd[14]
- Mary Malcolm[15]
- Wendy Richard[16]
- Wayne Sleep[17]
- Louie Spence[18]
- Nellie Wallace[10]
- Dorothy Ward[10]
- Sid Sloane
References
[edit]- ^ Green, Aaron (17 March 2017). "La Cenerentola Synopsis". www.thoughtco.com. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ "La Cenerentola Rossini's Cinderella: Synopsis". wno.org.uk. Welsh National Opera. 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Cox, John (18 June 2012). "Glyndebourne 2012 – La Cenerentola synopsis, cast and creatives". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Clinton-Baddeley, V. C. (1963). Some Pantomime Pedigrees. The Society for Theatrical Research. pp. 13–14.
- ^ Forbes, Elizabeth (12 May 2003). "Sesto Bruscantini". The Independent. London. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ "Memoirs of performers at the Italian opera house". The World of Fashion and Continental Feuilletons, Issue CLVII, p 78. London. 1 April 1837.
- ^ "Paris and the Parisiens". The Lady's Newspaper p 16. London. 12 January 1850.
- ^ "The Drama". La Belle Assemblée; or, Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine issue 90 p 287. London. 1 June 1832.
- ^ Billington, Michael (15 December 2016). "Cinderella review – Julian Clary unleashes a tsunami of smut". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ a b c Sweeney, Maxwell (1984). "Pantomime: Preservation of a Tradition". Theatre Ireland (8): 62–64. JSTOR 25488964.
- ^ Hamilton, Laura (25 February 2011). "Bullies said my boobs were too big". Daily Mirror. London.
- ^ Heald, Tim (28 December 1967). "In Panto at Least: A boy is best when he's a girl!". Daily Express. London.
- ^ "Here We Are Again!". Punch p 24. London. 11 January 1896.
- ^ Trinculo (4 January 1897). "Amongst the Mummers and at the Music Hall". The Sporting Mirror and Dramatic and Music Hall Record p 1. London.
- ^ "It's Mary Malcolm in Pantomime!". Daily Mirror. London. 21 December 1955.
- ^ Court, Louise (27 December 1986). "We're Top of the Bill!". Daily Express. London.
- ^ Everett, Lucinda. "Cinderella, New Wimbledon Theatre, review: 'thoroughly festive'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Winter, Stuart (23 December 2012). "Hammed up no longer, shows are now a good career move". Sunday Express. London.