The Wizard of Oz

 

‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a strange beast: a curious fable which carries much weight across the pond and which also has a deep resonance within the theatrical community in general as something of a touchstone. It’s never been a particular favourite of mine (I find it a repetitive, if not slightly creepy bit of nonsense if I’m honest!) That said, this rather fey little ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ has music and colour threaded throughout its winsome narrative and as there is probably not a soul in the land who doesn’t know the jolly tale of Dorothy’s quest to find her way back to Kansas from the magical land of Oz, I shall refrain from even attempting a short plot summary here: suffice to say, all - or certainly most - of the ingredients were present at the Royal Court Theatre to make this a memorable re-telling of a classic piece of musical theatre. It was also great to see the Royal Court Theatre again in my ‘official’ capacity after a relatively short but regrettable absence from the NODA fold. Much has been done to change the fortunes of the theatre by a great many hard working people and I know huge numbers have volunteered their time and effort to get the theatre up and running again after a series of unfortunate events: I salute you all for your efforts and all the hard work you have all put in.

This version of the famous musical seemed to be the ‘Muni’ (St Louis Municipal Theatre) one which had mercifully been tinkered with slightly to weed out some of the longueurs which makes this particular variation of the trip to Oz rather tiresome. Full marks to the production team for thinning out some of the less inspiring chunks of the at times rather ‘pantomime’ - and definitely rather long! - ‘Muni’ version of the story. That version’s faults were still present (the opening and closing sections; no Miss Gultch; the rather pointless witches’ party; no return to Kansas via the magic of the ruby slippers...) but thankfully truncated: a wise decision from the production team.

Staging and scenery was first class across the board with some excellent touches, particularly when we arrived in Oz: great work from Ruth Bearshaw and her team. Some excellent sets added a real touch of class to the production and caught the eye magnificently. Costumes were also of a good standard - particularly the central Oz trio of Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion - with suitable makeup completing the picture. Lighting was also very well done and provided a colourful and sympathetic overall picture. Music was in the more than capable hands of Julia Killick and her excellent orchestra provided a solid base for a musical trip down memory lane.

Leading the ensemble wh confidence, Ellie Goddard as Dorothy is certainly a name to keep an eye on for the future. A wonderfully strong and precise singing voice and a doughty presence on stage throughout the evening, Ellie led from the front magnificently in a role which demands a good deal of stamina. Her travelling companions were equally good company for the duration: Patrick Duffy was a suitably flexible and friendly Scarecrow; Darren Briefly was a delight as the Tinman and Jordan Barnes stole every scene as the Cowardly Lion, as is only proper with such a fun role! A dependably solid performance from Janice Purslow as Aunt Em got us off to a fine start, with Sam Greaves adding a youthful stage presence as Uncle Henry, suitably disguised of course. Amy Singleton sparkled as the Sorceress (sparkling vocally and with a typically engaging presence) and Emily Wilson was a cackling, glowering Wicked Witch, which of course is just as it should be! Stephen Woods gave gravitas and dignity to the role of the Wizard with society totem, Julie Stanworth as Lady Oz (rather like the ravens at the Tower of London, Julie’s presence in a Bacup production is always a reassuring one!) It was also great to see so many young faces from BYTES and BESTS on stage in various guises and they made for an especially delightful troupe of Munchkins. 

There were many engaging moments on stage which caught both the eye and the ear in what was a thoroughly enjoyable evening’s entertainment. The sections in Oz were particularly well done and it would have been nice to see more of the opulent sets on display for the grander parts of the magical land as these were very impressive indeed, with some great lighting complementing the overall look. Set pieces worked well and threaded throughout the narrative was an obvious sense of fun; director Regina Arkwright had obviously infused her cast with a positive spirit which really shone through. 

The great family atmosphere which suffused the theatre in a warm glow throughout the evening was a wonderful touch and it was evident that this production on both sides of the footlights had been very much a team effort. My thanks to everyone at the Royal Court Theatre for a warm welcome and a great evening’s entertainment. Both Stuart and myself wish you all the best with your future endeavours: long may you continue to go from strength to strength and give a theatrical heart to the local community.

 

 

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