Buttons (pantomime)

Buttons is a traditional character in Cinderella pantomimes, and is commonly portrayed in Cinderella pantomimes throughout the UK and Australia. He is typically 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]

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] he is often portrayed in a comic tone.^[1]^[6]

People who have played Buttons

Arthur Askey 26 December 1947 Radio BBC Home Service^[9]
Graham Bickley 1991 Richmond Theatre Surrey^[10]
Jack Buchanan 1941 unspecified Midlands Theatre^[11]
Brian Conley 2009, 2015 and 2021^[12]
Ronnie Corbett^[13]
Billy Dainty 1976 Manchester Opera House^[14]
Jim Davidson 1988 Dominion Theatre London^[15]
Lonnie Donegan 1966 Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow^[16]
Bud Flanagan 1945 Adelphi Theatre^[17]
Tommy Handley 26 December 1929 BBC Radio^[18]
Jack Hulbert 27 December 1948 BBC TV^[19]
David Jason 1979 Newcastle Theatre Royal^[20]
Danny Kaye mid-1950s in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia^[21]
Paul Keating 2007 The Old Vic^[22]
Adele King 1984 Olympia Theatre, Dublin^[23]
Harry Lauder 1907 first stage appearance^[6]^[24]
Lee Mack 2021 in Not Going Out^[25]
Tom O'Connor 1976 Southport Theatre^[14]
Jimmy O'Dea 1923 Queen's Theatre, Dublin^[26]
Wilfred Pickles 1947 Bradford Alhambra^[27]
Ted Ray 1942 unspecified Midland Theatre^[28]
Frank Skinner 2000 TV film of stage show^[29]
Tommy Steele 1958 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical version in London.^[30]
Jimmy Tarbuck 25 December 1969 BBC1 TV^[31]
Tommy Trinder 1948-9 London Palladium^[32] later undated^[33]
Tim Vine 2018 New Wimbledon Theatre^[34]
Wee Georgie Wood 1936 Birmingham theatre^[35]
Bradley Walsh 2013 Orchard Theatre, Dartford^[36]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c 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. S2CID 193158040.
^ "Theatricals". The Age. London. 17 November 1839.
^ "The Drama". Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle. London. 6 October 1844.
^ Marie, Louise (29 May 1891). "Tea Table Talk". The Dart. Birmingham.
^ Bovey, Paul. "A Very Slippery Tale" (PDF). panto.johngood.com. John Good. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Kaplan, Charles (1984). "The Only Native British Art Form". The Antioch Review. 42 (3): 266–276. doi:10.2307/4611362. JSTOR 4611362.
^ "Buttons". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ Knowles, Elizabeth (2005). Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198609810.
^ "Cinderella". Radio Times. 19 December 1947. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ Paton, Maureen (24 December 1991). "Oh yes we do love the panto!". Daily Express. London.
^ "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 26 December 1941. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "BRIAN CONLEY TO STAR AS BUTTONS IN MILTON KEYNES THEATRE PANTOMIME". Crossroads Pantomimes. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
^ Merriman, Rebecca (31 March 2016). "Ronnie Corbett dead age 85: TV comedian passes away surrounded by family". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b "It's Nero in drag!". Daily Mirror. London. 24 December 1976.
^ "Star Jim brushes up his Buttons". Daily Express. London. 23 December 1988.
^ "The Alhambra Theatre, Wellington Street, Glasgow". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Christmas Plays and pantomimes". The Times. London. 24 December 1945.
^ "Cinderella". Radio Times. No. 325. 20 December 1929. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Cinderella". Radio Times. 24 December 1948. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Theatre feature: Remembrance of Theatre Past (15–17): More on the Tynewear Theatre Company".
^ "Facts about Danny Kaye (P2) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)".
^ Clapp, Susannah (16 December 2007). "Poof! Buttons gets his man at last". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
^ Hosey, Seamus; Henderson, Lynda (1984). "The Turkey Trot". Theatre Ireland (8): 72–74. JSTOR 25488969.
^ "Sir Harry Lauder as Buttons in 'Cinderella'". www.npg.org.uk. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ Guide, British Comedy. "Not Going Out Panto". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
^ Hadfield, Paul; Henderson, Linda (1983). "Behind the Times..... 1953". Theatre Ireland (5): 96. JSTOR 25488895.
^ Crossley, Mick (11 December 2008). "Great dames who trod the boards". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 29 January 1942. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Cinderella (2000)". www.imdb.com. IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Leading a Merry Dance". The Guardian. 2 December 1995.
^ "Cinderella". Radio Times. 18 December 1969. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Cinderella". collections.vam.ac.uk. Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Another Nod to the past- More Panto Flyers". ibygreenroom.wordpress.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2018. Tommy as Buttons (photo)
^ Everett, Lucinda. "Cinderella, New Wimbledon Theatre, review: 'thoroughly festive'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
^ "Music Hall". Radio Times. 3 April 1936. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
^ "Bradley Walsh :: Pantomime". www.bradleywalsh.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

[Joyce-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. S2CID 193158040.

[Pedro1-2] "Theatricals". The Age. London. 17 November 1839.

[Pedro2-3] "The Drama". Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle. London. 6 October 1844.

[Pedro3-4] Marie, Louise (29 May 1891). "Tea Table Talk". The Dart. Birmingham.

[Bovey-5] Bovey, Paul. "A Very Slippery Tale" (PDF). panto.johngood.com. John Good. Retrieved 9 December 2018.

[Kaplan-6] Kaplan, Charles (1984). "The Only Native British Art Form". The Antioch Review. 42 (3): 266–276. doi:10.2307/4611362. JSTOR 4611362.

[OED-7] "Buttons". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)

[ODPF-8] Knowles, Elizabeth (2005). Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198609810.

[Askey-9] "Cinderella". Radio Times. 19 December 1947. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Bickley-10] Paton, Maureen (24 December 1991). "Oh yes we do love the panto!". Daily Express. London.

[Buchanan-11] "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 26 December 1941. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[12] "BRIAN CONLEY TO STAR AS BUTTONS IN MILTON KEYNES THEATRE PANTOMIME". Crossroads Pantomimes. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

[RonnieC-13] Merriman, Rebecca (31 March 2016). "Ronnie Corbett dead age 85: TV comedian passes away surrounded by family". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Dainty-14] "It's Nero in drag!". Daily Mirror. London. 24 December 1976.

[Davidson-15] "Star Jim brushes up his Buttons". Daily Express. London. 23 December 1988.

[Lonnie-16] "The Alhambra Theatre, Wellington Street, Glasgow". www.arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Flanagan-17] "Christmas Plays and pantomimes". The Times. London. 24 December 1945.

[Handley-18] "Cinderella". Radio Times. No. 325. 20 December 1929. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Hulbert-19] "Cinderella". Radio Times. 24 December 1948. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[20] "Theatre feature: Remembrance of Theatre Past (15–17): More on the Tynewear Theatre Company".

[21] "Facts about Danny Kaye (P2) : Classic Movie Hub (CMH)".

[Keating-22] Clapp, Susannah (16 December 2007). "Poof! Buttons gets his man at last". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2018.

[Twink-23] Hosey, Seamus; Henderson, Lynda (1984). "The Turkey Trot". Theatre Ireland (8): 72–74. JSTOR 25488969.

[NPG-24] "Sir Harry Lauder as Buttons in 'Cinderella'". www.npg.org.uk. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[25] Guide, British Comedy. "Not Going Out Panto". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

[ODea-26] Hadfield, Paul; Henderson, Linda (1983). "Behind the Times..... 1953". Theatre Ireland (5): 96. JSTOR 25488895.

[Pickles-27] Crossley, Mick (11 December 2008). "Great dames who trod the boards". Telegraph & Argus. Bradford. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Ray-28] "Pantomime in the Midlands". Radio Times. 29 January 1942. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Skinner-29] "Cinderella (2000)". www.imdb.com. IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Trent-30] "Leading a Merry Dance". The Guardian. 2 December 1995.

[Tarbuck-31] "Cinderella". Radio Times. 18 December 1969. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Trinder1-32] "Cinderella". collections.vam.ac.uk. Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[Trinder2-33] "Another Nod to the past- More Panto Flyers". ibygreenroom.wordpress.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2018. Tommy as Buttons (photo)

[Vine-34] Everett, Lucinda. "Cinderella, New Wimbledon Theatre, review: 'thoroughly festive'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2018.

[Wood-35] "Music Hall". Radio Times. 3 April 1936. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2018.

[36] "Bradley Walsh :: Pantomime". www.bradleywalsh.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-13.

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