The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz a musical performed by Maghull Musical Theatre Company, on Friday, 24th November 2023 at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport.

This iconic musical was first produced in 1902 based on a book penned by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and background music by Herbert Stothart.  There have been multiple versions of this title produced since, plus, in 1939 it was made into a film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. The adaptation used by Maghull Musical Theatre Company was adapted by John Kane in 1987 for the Royal Shakespeare Company.  This version, a more faithful adaptation of the film, was adapted for live theatre providing more work for the chorus and small vocal ensembles.  This timeless tale tells the story of Dorothy Gale who travels from Kansas ‘over the rainbow’ to the ‘Land of Oz’ meeting and making friends with a scarecrow, a tinman and a cowardly lion along the way! Their aim to reach the Land of Oz and meet the ‘Great Oz’ who will help all four friends with their problems.  But there are many obstacles and challenges to overcome along the way… can Dorothy and her new friends overcome these obstacles and challenges and reach Oz?  

The Production Team… entrusted with bringing this ‘iconic musical’ to stage was Becky Barrie (Director) – in her directing debut!  Iconic musicals like The Wizard of Oz bring with them certain expectations especially with characters and things that happen … I can honestly say that I thought Becky dealt with those expectations ever so well!  Assisting Becky, we had the experienced Betty Hall (Assistant Director); last year’s District 6 Award Winning Musical Director Andrew Standeven and making up ‘the team’… Heather Gomersall (Choreographer) and what a team they made!  From the off, the cast looked well-rehearsed, engaged, they worked ever so well together and as soon as those lights came up were ready and willing to give us their all!  The Choreography was creative, cleverly devised, enabling all ages and abilities to shine in their own right, which isn’t always easy!  The musical support for the singers was excellent throughout…  be ever so proud, great job!

The Cast… where to start!  As most will know, this is ‘sticky neck out time’ for me, when I identify MY favourite performances, favourite characters and MY ‘Showstealer’… for once I don’t think I need look much further than our lead female character for my ‘showstealer’!  ‘Dorothy Gale’ was played superbly well by Emily Bloom, a very talented sixteen-year-old, who is blessed with an amazing singing voice!  Emily took on this ‘iconic role’, ‘red shoes and all’ and ‘knocked it’ out of the park!  Confident, assured with stage presence that belied her years, she made this role look far easier than it actually was! Hardley ever off stage, she led from the front and her rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ was haunting, a highlight for me!  Be very proud Emily… wonderful job!  If I may, can I now identify my four favourite characters… I’m not sure you should ever talk separately about this trio and if these three characters don’t work well together then you’ll probably never have a successful production, but work well they did… ‘Scarecrow’, ‘Tin Man’ and the ‘Cowardly Lion’ were played ever so well by Les Longley, Alex McKillop and Colin KilBride (who all doubled up playing, Hunk, Hickory and Zeke respectively … farm hands at Dorothy’s Uncle and Aunts’ Farm’ in Kansas.)  What a ‘trio’ they made… totally believable characters, they worked ever so well together whilst also supporting Dorothy at every turn!  All three had wonderful stage presence, great comedic timing and were an absolute joy to watch. Be very proud guys, great job!  The last of my ‘fab four’ was Natalie Olson who did another wonderful job playing the very nasty, mean spirited, well-connected ‘Almera Gulch’ as well as doubling as ‘The Wicked Witch of the West’. Great characterisation, I think we all loathed the ground that she walked on!  Great characterisation for both parts… mannerisms and facial expressions worked well and enhanced her portrayal… well done Natalie, be ever so proud!  I could have gone on… loved, loved, loved Pam Devereux’s and Les Gomersall’s portrayals of Dorothy’s ‘Aunt Em’ and ‘Uncle Henry’ (again doubled up playing ‘Glinda’ and Emerald City Guard’ respectively’) … another four great characters created… be proud you two!  Matt Casson also doubled up as ‘Professor Marvel’ and the ‘Wizard of Oz’ himself… well done Matt.  We also had two amazing chorus’s … who really did shine throughout!  First the ‘adult chorus who played … Adult Munchkins, Crows, Trees, Poppies, Ozians, Winkies, Jitterbugs and Monkeys…Vicki Ridland, Kay Davies, Leanne Cooney, Kayleigh Ginley, Olivia Burns, Jan Monkley, James Fleetwood, Ian Culshaw, Elle Fletcher, Gill Culshaw, Ellie Simons, Colin Dryden, Hayley King, Chris Barrie, Chloe Ackers, Amber Longley, Alicia Allen and John Ball… then one of two amazing youth chorus’s (took to the stage) … the evening I attended it was the ‘Yellowbricks’ team… which included Finlay Casserly, Jack Cole, Isabelle Culshaw, Bella Cumia, Aleyah Ginley, Mia Ginley, Hannah Green, Holly Newsome, Joseph Porter,
Evie Ridland, Lucy Scott, and Francesca Walsh.  (‘The Emerald Team, which I didn’t see… included Anna Davies, Summer Davies, Ruby Delacruz, Nathaniel Grills, Bryony Jones, Bonnie Kilbride, Reuben Kilbride, Leo Manchester, Lucy Manchester, Libby Manchester and Max Rigby, (so … sorry I missed you) … well done to each and all… be proud of what you all helped achieve!  Before moving on can I just point out three routines that I just loved…  the ‘Jitterbug’ routine, the ‘Merry Old Land of Oz’ and the finale to Act One… congrats to all involved in these, the choreography and the performance side of these routines were amazing!   

Staging/Set/Tech… Radley Haynes (Stage Manager) was overseeing all things back stage… with an experienced crew of Pete Beswick and Colin Haynes with Ed McKillop as his ‘Flyman’… well done guys, great job!  Andre Shacksmyth-Claire was overseeing the ‘lighting’ which was first rate throughout as was the ‘sound’ under the watchful eye of Matt Hughes.  But what can I say about the ‘Projection, its Design and the Filming’ created by the ever so talented Paul Shacksmyth-Claire…. this guy is a magician!  The imagery was creative and totally enhanced this production. If you read through some of the information regarding the staging of this production with its twenty-four/twenty-five scenes…. the suggestion that this can be an issue for ‘Amateur Societies’ was
blown out of the water… the use of the huge screen situated to the rear of the stage along with the projection/filming used throughout… ‘problems what problems’, the show flowed without a hitch… well done Paul, be very proud!    

Emerald City Symphony Orchestra… led by Andrew Standeven (MD), with Jess Holding/Richie Dunn (Violin),
Nieve Mannion (Cello), Cliff Ray (Trumpet), JP Warder (Trombone), Emma Lenehan (Horn), Niamph Boland (Reed1), Adam Letman (Reed 2), Sarah Dutch (Reed 3), Will Graham (Oboe), Chris Rimmer (Keyboard), Adam Dutch/Robert Rainford (Bass) and Jonathan Rowlands/Jack Corlett (Percussion)… fabulous interpretation of this haunting score, wonderful support for the singers throughout…. be proud folks!

Costumes … were amazing and enhanced the production … provided by ‘The Costume Store’
Props… used well throughout under the watchful eye of Chris and Becky Barrie and Ingrid Cleverly.

Remembering CAROL KENNEDY… who sadly passed away earlier this year!  Carole is described in the programme notes as a ‘real force of nature’, a past acting member of Maghull MTC who will be sadly missed!  Maghull MTC have taken the opportunity to dedicate their production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, which was one of Carol’s favourite musicals, to Carole.  Can I on behalf of NODA and myself pay my respects to Carol’s family and to all at Maghull MTC… RIP Carol somewhere ‘Over that Rainbow’ …  

Thank you once again for inviting my wife and I to your production and for your welcome and hospitality throughout! Thank you also for allowing me to meet and speak with the cast after the performance, always a privilege and an honour!  My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the production and can’t wait to see your next effort … Spamalot!  
If we don’t bump into each other again before, have a great Christmas, … see you all in 2024!

Stay safe and keep well…

‘STRONGER TOGETHER’

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

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