The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is based on the 1939 film of the same name in turn based on L. Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. The story tells of a young orphaned Dorothy Gale who is swept away by a tornado from the Kansas farm, where she lives with her Aunty Em and Uncle Henry, to the magical land of Oz where she 

wakes up to find the house has landed and killed the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy meets the Munchkins and the good Witch of the North, who gives her the dead Witch’s magic ruby shoes. If she wants to return home she must travel to the Emerald City to ask the help of the Wizard of Oz and must journey along the Yellow Brick Road. Along the way she befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodman and a Cowardly Lion who join her in the hopes of getting a brain, a heart and courage, respectively. The group faces many dangers, including the Wicked Witch of the West, and ultimately discover that the powerful Wizard is just a man and that they already possessed what they were looking for.

On the open stage was a ‘flat’ with a painted window, a wooden cart and a hay bale and on the back wall a projection showing the Wizard of Oz logo. There was what seemed to be a black box-like structure to one side which was later revealed to become a balcony. A wide extension walkway had been built around where the orchestra were housed and this became a most wonderful ‘Yellow Brick Road’.

Larissa Wallington was outstanding as Dorothy. She totally captured every nuance of the character from her innocence, her feistiness, her determination, her vulnerability and her effective leadership skills in coping with the friends that she met on her way to the Emerald City. She was so charmingly endearing with such a natural demeanour and her singing of ‘Over the Rainbow’ was just exquisite. The super interactions with her ‘friends’ and their many musical numbers were all perfectly delivered. Of course you can’t have Dorothy without a ‘Toto’ and here we had the most incredible, totally disciplined and most adorable tiny wee dog called Tatiana. She literally  stole the show and at the end of the performance it was so lovely to see them both in the foyer. Tatiana is most definitely going to have withdrawal symptoms after all the adoration and attention she so deservedly merited and received. Dorothy meets Professor Marvel who becomes The Wizard of Oz and both characters were well played by Danny Winson especially as the quite grandiose Wizard who eventually bestows the necessary ‘awards’ and offers to take Dorothy with him in his hot air balloon. From the ‘Balcony’ he throws down a rope, which is the end of his tethered balloon, but Dorothy misses the flight and off he goes without her. The Scarecrow, who was Farmhand Hunk, was superbly played by Naomi King. Her physicality as a stuffed with straw being was so comically and energetically delivered as were her many acrobatic mishaps. It was a truly top-notch portrayal. David Thorpe was wonderful as the Tin Man, aka Farmhand Hickory. His robotic movements were just perfect for a man made of tin and his passionate, sensitive and heartfelt pleas for a heart were so movingly played. His stunning costume was made in-house. The Lion, who was also Farmhand Zeke, was brilliantly portrayed by Karl Brennan-Collis. He definitely played the cowardly and lacking courage aspects of the role impeccably in such a charming and charismatic way and his singing of ‘If I Were King of the Forest’ was exceptional. As a trio and along with Dorothy they were indeed a tour-de-force. As Aunty Em, Alison Doram was caring, loving and quite fiercely protective of Dorothy and these same traits was transferred when she became Glinda, the most glamorous Witch of the North delivering a most delightful portrayal. John Redhead was quite calm and loving as Uncle Henry but as a Guard he was so strident and officious in carrying out his duties, it was a great portrayal. Danielle Cutts was excellent as the epitome of an evil inspired character both as Almira Gulch, determined to have her revenge on Toto, and as the Wicked Witch of the West determined to get back her sister’s ruby shoes by any possible means. Her demise, when Dorothy threw water over her, was very well accomplished. The Munchkins, all from The Performers Studio, were so cutely awesome and so beautifully dressed in different outfits as befitted their particular character. They sang and danced divinely and they were all so deserving of praise. The six main dancers were Rebekah Petrillo, Alys Raine, Kelly Dyke, Jo Poole, Heather Anderson and Gabriela Risorto-Fowkes who splendidly executed all the various dance routines they were involved in. I must just mention the three crows who were just hilarious and also the Monkeys whose gesticulations and antics were sublime. As well as being part of the Ensemble excellent named support came from Dave Sallis as the Winkie General, from Jamie Beesley as Niko, from the impressive crew of Winkies, Sam Zablocki, Liam Power, Richard Leivers and Alan Blair. Pauline Hindle, Charlotte Butterworth, Loopin Carline were wonderful as Trees as were Judith Doram and Diane Povall as the Haunted Trees as was Hailie Randall as Monkey. 

All of the numerous numbers from soloists, small groups and large ensemble ones were all imaginatively choreographed and so well sung and danced and the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ was certainly well used. The costumes were absolutely stunning as was the make-up and wigs provided by L2 & L3 Make-up students from the Learning Curve Group Hair & Beauty Academy. The superb projections, depicting the various scenarios, were excellent as were the props and the lighting and sound plots and It was so lovely to have a live eight-piece orchestra.

Many congratulations to Director Adam Walker, to Musical Director Helen Ingham, to Choreographer Kat Burton, to Stage Manager Ben Keers and all of the Back Stage Crew but especially to the wonderful talented cast, not forgetting Toto. My sincere thanks also to Jon Bennett for being a most welcoming and attentive host.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.