Humpty Dumpty – Oakworth Methodist Church

EVERYONE gets a name in the Oakworth Methodists pantomime – and that’s no mean feat when there are around 40 children in the cast.

But writer David Howarth had plenty of characters to choose from after setting this year’s panto story in Nursery-rhyme Land.

He plundered every rhyme you ever knew for characters to inhabit this enjoyable tale of friendship versus nastiness.

Lots of characters, but a strong central storyline to keep us engrossed through the first act. Then after the interval, the same plotline as half the pantos ever staged: “let’s invade the bad guy’s lair”.

Along the way, in a lively show directed and choreographed by Judith Chapman, there was plenty of comedy, songs, dances, romance and adventure.

Oakworth’s annual pantomime is an unashamedly traditional affair, aimed squarely at young children, and it’s always rewarded by full houses of enchanted young ones who delight in booing and hissing the villains.

Humpty Dumpty was no exception, beginning with a prophecy that chaos would befall Nursery-rhyme Land if the egg ever fell off the wall.

The newly-hatched Humpty became the actual cause of that chaos, misusing his magic, and the wicked Knave of Hearts was quick to take control.

It was up to our hero and his new friends to ensure that good defeated evil.

David Knights