“THE WIZARD OF OZ”

YOUNG PERFORMERS EDITION OF “THE WIZARD OF OZ”

This was a fantastic production by these junior performers. From the opening scene we are at the Farm and we meet our leading lady Dorothy a brilliant performance by Leah Head – her rendering of “Over the Rainbow” was as good as in any adult production we have seen.

 Aunt Em was Charlotte Cathcart who carried this adult role well.   The three main characters were excellent, Scarecrow was Dolly Henshall , an very good character here, all her mannerisms were carefully put over  and very expressive. Tin Man was Polly Scoggins whom you could really believe she was made of tin and as for the Lion – somebody has been studying the film to such a degree this was an exact impersonation by Lucy Adams!

There were two excellent witches, Glenda was Anna Kitching and the Wicked Witch was Brodie Appleford, both these girls were excellent in their interpretation of both characters. I had to smile to see little Rowan Murphy as Uncle Henry, but he did his stuff and is a good little character actor.

There were some brilliant Munchkins and I loved the multi coloured wigs. Also the Monkeys were excellent and really brought you to believe with their antics that they were real, well done to choreographer Rosie Fuller for this and all her work in this production.

Bridie certainly knows how to bring out the very best in the children under her direction. She must be very proud of all these children in her care, who eventually go on to the more adult productions such as Les Miserables for the under twenty ones, which opens in July.

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