The Wizard of Oz

SIYT is made up of young performers aged 11 to 18 in full time education and celebrated their twentieth anniversary a year late with this their summer production of The Wizard of Oz.  As their usual venue was unavailable we followed the cleverly signed Yellow Brick Road to this year’s venue Burleigh Hill Farm barn and the Land of Oz.   

The staging was innovative by having the double barn doors open to the elements with a vista of sky, trees and fields forming the backdrop to the stage.  This did mean that the lighting was fairly ineffective until the evening drew in but it gave several entrances and exits for the cast.  Lighting and sound effects (Will Golding & George Ablewhite) were good but that old bugbear body mics raised its head a few times which meant some lines were lost.  Excellent make-up (Lauren Davis & Charli Harriet Handley) for the main Principals, particularly Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Wicked Witch. The costumes (Trish Lloyd, Sammy Ramsbottom & Freya Garside) were good and lots of thought and work had gone into Set design (Andy Davis) plus the additional pieces which augmented the various scenes. 

The eight-piece Band under the baton of Andrew Taylor did a really good job of what is a quite complicated score and in the main managed not to overpower the young voices. Sometimes singers were not quite as sure of the intro to a song as they might have been which made for a couple of false starts. The dance routines were good and executed well.

Having seen the film more years ago than I care to admit to, I can still recall the sense of disappointment at the beginning when everything was in black and white and then, Dorothy was whisked over the rainbow and everything became technicolour.  Creating the frenetic feel that the twister should generate is virtually impossible to achieve on a stage but music sound and lighting did manage to build up atmosphere pretty well. 

The main principals were a credit to the production. Sophie as Dorothy gave a very good performance showing excellent stage presence coupled with a nice voice. She worked extremely well with her three companions in her search for the Wizard. Stan must be congratulated on an excellent portrayal as Scarecrow, matched by the first-rate performances of Elizabeth as Tin Man and Martha as the Cowardly Lion. All four delivered their songs with confidence and were great favourites with the audience. 

Over the rainbow there were the Munchkins, who all looked splendid, with the Munchin Mayor (Charlie) leading from the front.  All knew their song and dance routines and delivered them confidently. In a ‘suitably evil’ performance as the scary Wicked Witch, Harry was very good. She had such a fearsome shriek I got a bit concerned for her vocal chords.  Mia as Glinda the Good had good diction, a nice singing voice, and she looked lovely.  Completing the cast of Principals was Justin in an energetic and confident performance as Professor Marvel/ Oz.   Good support also came from Aunt Em and Uncle Henry (Abbi & Cayden), Hunk, Hickory and Zeke (Joe, Roanna & Maddoc).

Of course with such a large cast it is not possible to mention everyone but suffice it to say each person put in every effort. However, I would be negligent not to mention the contribution to the production of the fourteen members of the Ensemble who were kept busy throughout the show as Munchkins and Citizens of Oz not to mention trees, crows, monkeys, guards and Jitterbugs.  

Well done to all concerned in all areas of this production which showed that the future of St Ives Youth Theatre for the next twenty years and beyond is in safe hands.

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