Mime Alphabet Book
Nina Gasiorowicz
Hardcover
(Lerner Publications, Feb. 1, 1974)
Pantomime, or mime, is a unique way of acting. If is acting without words. Mime artists express ideas, feelings, and situations by using only their bodies and the expressions on their faces. No one knows exactly when the art on pantomime first began, but it is probably as old as mankind itself. As long ago as 27 B.C., the Romans were putting on pantomime plays. The Roman mime artist wore a long silken tunic covered with a cloak. An orchestra played and a chorus chanted the story while the mime artist performed silently. Thoughout the ages, mime has been a popular art form. Even today, pantomime still fascinates many people. The popularity of artists such as Marcel Marceau, Charles Chaplin, and Red Skelton is proof to the timelessness of this art.