description Old King Cole Overview
Old King Cole is a traditional British pantomime subject based on the nursery rhyme about a cheerful king who calls for his pipe, bowl, and three fiddlers. Pantomime versions use the brief rhyme as a starting point for a larger comic stage story, often adding stock characters, music, audience participation, and topical jokes. The subject appeared repeatedly in Victorian-era Christmas pantomime.
help Old King Cole FAQ
What is the story of Old King Cole based on?
Old King Cole pantomimes are based on the nursery rhyme about a cheerful king who calls for his pipe, bowl, and three fiddlers. Stage versions expand that short rhyme into a longer comic story.
What characters usually appear in an Old King Cole pantomime?
Pantomime adaptations commonly add stock figures such as a comic character, a villain, a romantic lead, and a dame. The exact cast changes from production to production because the rhyme supplies only a basic starting point.
Is Old King Cole a traditional British pantomime?
Yes. Old King Cole is used as a traditional British pantomime subject, combining music, comedy, audience interaction, and a larger fictional plot built around the nursery rhyme.
Why do different Old King Cole productions have different plots?
The original rhyme is only a few lines long, so writers create the surrounding story themselves. That is why one production may emphasize fairy-tale adventure while another focuses on local jokes and comic stage characters.
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