Events History (2)

WEST HALLAM METHODIST CHURCH

PANTOMIME

BABES IN THE WOOD

Full house, the cast raring to go and for the fifth season the West Hallam Methodist Players entertained their audiences with this years pantomime BABES IN THE WOOD.

It all started way back in May last year when Melanie Pierson, our producer, began searching for a pantomime script that could be adapted to meet the needs of our church cast. With God’s help, Melanie’s skills in rewriting and help from Roger Wood with typing (and jokes!), the script was ready by the start of October for initial readings and auditions. The final cast was selected at the end of October and the

rehearsals then started in earnest. Due to the large number of our young people wanting to take part Melanie introduced the innovation of duplicate groups playing the same parts at different performances.

Rehearsals continued throughout November, January and early February with time passing fast to the first of the dress rehearsals. Despite the difficulties of remembering lines, stage positioning, dance routines and learning the songs everyone had a great time with lots of fun and fellowship. At the beginning of February winter colds beset several members of the cast and it was noted that a number of pantomime rehearsals took place in the waiting room of the local doctor’s surgery!


	Finally all was prepared; lighting and sound installed, scenery touched up, props to the ready, ice cream ordered, scripts thrown away, dance routines practised (and practised!) and dress rehearsals completed successfully. We were, according to our producer, ready to face a live audience.

The four performances were great with fantastic audiences who cheered, laughed, hissed and booed ‘till their sides split.

The bad baron was horrible, the dame, called Nursey, was hilarious, the teddy bears had their picnic, Postman Pat and his cat delivered the important letter and as usual good triumphed over evil. The Babes were saved from the wicked Baron, and his sidekicks Tricky and Thicky, and Robin got to marry Marion. Even Nursey found her beau in Friar Tuck.

The highlight of the show was definitely P C Plod’s helicopter, brilliantly made by Lionel Wood, flying in over the audience to kill the evil dragon.

Another pantomime over, the clearing away done and a weary cast ready for a well earned rest.




	We would like to thank everyone who took part, whether as a member of the cast, as part of the production team or in front of house. A pantomime needs a good team to be successful - and boy has West Hallam Methodist church got a good team!