The Wizard of Oz

Once again this top company has managed to fill this substantial theatre with a quality production. No wonder it is playing to packed houses. The Wizard of Oz is an old favourite of musical theatre companies but doesn’t seem to have dated. It is still the charming story well-known from the Hollywood film. The stage version seems to flag a little in the second half but it is still full of entertainment to keep an audience engaged all evening. This production is rich, well presented and pleasing. The company (and what a size; they seem to be able to summon even more cast members each year) is experienced and it shows. The singing, dancing and dialogue are well staged. There are some superb individual performances: Jonathan Cash (the Cowardly Lion), Dan Greener (the Tin Woodsman) and Jonny Gill (the Scarecrow); and worth mentioning are the two Dorothies (Lucy Conroy, Victoria Monaghan), The Wicked Witch (Claire Blake) and The Good Witch of the North (Nikki Cunningham). It was privileged to see both Dorothy's because the previous (first) night had to be cancelled so the part was shared for this performance. Unfortunately this upset may have had knock-on effects as there were a few technical snags that night (pauses in the scene changes, mic glitches) and the orchestra was a bit too dominant which made for uncomfortable listening sometimes. Nevertheless the rest of the production made up for this with a set well done, the dancing and movement a pleasure (Sandra Laidler) and the orchestra full and skilled.

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