Mime and Pantomime

Marcel Marceau

   Mime, also known as pantomime is a performance art form that uses only the body movements and motions of the mime. With roots as far back as Ancient Greek, the art of mime came from a single masked dancer which was called Pantomimus. This language of gestures is reborn every day with the need for man to express himself, and by the mid-twentieth century artists like Marcel Marceau did just that. Accomplishing what every performer dreams about, Marceau entertained our minds by using only his body to depict objects and situations that were not even there!

   Not to be confused with silent comedy, in which an actor portrays a character in a film or sketch, miming has destinctive characteristics. The traditional mime outfit included a black and white striped top, white gloves and a black cap (see pic on left). The mime would also use makeup to conceal his or her face as well as add more depth or a certain emotion.


   Witnessing a mime performe could be a new experience in itself. You can never know what the mime could use as a prop, using body movements and actions the possibilities are endless! One moment the mime could be dancing with an invisible partner and the next pulling an audience member in with an unseeable lasso!

Did You Know?

• Most mimes won't make a sound, but some some contemporary mimes will communicate their actions with the help of vocal sounds.

• Pantomine Blanche, the white face mimes use was created by Jean-Gaspard. Many early mimes felt more comfortable performing behind masks, he found this interfered with his acting, and therefore decided to paint his mask on. 

The Legendary Marcel Marceau in action.

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     Theatre (1996): n. pag. Web. 18 Oct 2010. <http://www.mime.info/history-lust.html>.

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     <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1452384/mime-and-pantomime>.

Felner, Mira, and Claudia Orenstein. The World of Theatre - Traditional and Innovation. 

     first. Boston MA: Pearson Education, Inc., 2006. 458. Print.