Little Tommy Tucker – Oakworth Methodist Church

IT’S VALENTINE’S day and I’m watching something I love.

Anybody who hasn’t this panto yet has missed a treat. The plot may be a little confusing but after several years, that’s what you expect when every single child in the cast has chance to shine, and shine they do.

Everyone has their own voice and everyone matters.

Judith Chapman makes sure everyone has the chance to dance and enjoy the experience of dance. Moving so many children in different ways in different styles is an art, and Judith shows it here.

You get all the different styles of dance expected and with all the cast under 18 this is brilliant.

Janet Armstrong, as costume mistress, makes sure all are dressed in glorious outfits that match whatever scenario evolves throughout the show. All are vibrant and excellent and just what is needed in a panto.

The ‘children’ in the show are excellent and all add to an amazing night all should be extremely proud of their involvement of a show that had me (and Keighley panto supremo Peter Whitely) excited at what they can do in the future when they have become too old for Oakworth.

On an excellent night for everyone I’ll mention some parts I loved more... Harmony and Melody played by Natasha Armstrong and Scarlett Hale helped the show along and were brilliant, even taking on the audience participation.

Harry Rundle and Nathan Armstrong as the singing teachers, enjoyed the time on stage and Nathan loved his bad persona and his interaction with the audience.

My favourite two characters of the night (from a personal view) were Isaobelle Gissing as Mother Curseum the witch, who scared us all and was brilliant in the duet with Dr Discord (Nathan Armstrong).

Finally, and the favourite that made me cry laughing, Hannah Woollett as Benny, her/his singing had the audience in tears throughout the show. Not an easy thing to do with her off-tune responses.

All-in-all, an excellent nights’ entertainment, with laughs, claps and at the end of the night a very happy audience as they leave.

Philip Smith