The Wizard Of Oz

I really do not know where to start the review on this production. It was so full of energy with some very good actors and great singing.

As we all know, this production tells us the tale of Dorothy Gale from Kanas and her dog Toto who are whisked off to the land of Oz where she meets a Lion, a Scarecrow and a Tin Man, together with a good witch and a bad witch.  And so, her adventures begin. 

The company were led by Lola Hinsley as Dorothy.  This fine young actress had a great stage presence and a fantastic singing voice.  ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ sent shivers down my spine.  She was well supported by Euan Barnby as the Lion, Jamie Wilson as the Tin Man and Elliott Winhall as The Scarecrow.  Each of the actors brought out a different element to their role and made them their own.  I must not forget Daisy Moore as Glinda, Kian Haden as The Guard, Louise Heard as The Wicked Witch, she also played Miss. Gulch really well, and George Wells as the Wizard.  

The ensemble supported the principal actors well, they really blended in and their singing was second to none.  I just wish I had room to mention everyone in the company.

One thing I must say, is the finale, it just blew the whole of the audience away.  Very well done to everyone involved.  

The scenery was so well done, especially the side panels and the company made full use of the revolve on the stage.  A great use of space.  The costumes really looked good from an audience point of view.

This group of very talented young actors just go from strength to strength and Georgia, in fact the whole of the management board should be so proud of this production.

Thank you so much for the invite and I look forward to the next one.

Paul Douglass, Regional Representative district 10

 

 

One of the many joys of the role of Regional Councillor for NODA West Midlands is the privilege of attending numerous productions across the whole region. Many remain in the memory long after the visit, and this was certainly one such example. Having attended a performance a few days before Paul, I felt compelled to speak with him and let him know just how good the show was.

Even before the overture, the set promised something special. However, I must admit that I initially underestimated it, because it proved to be nothing short of amazing for the reasons Paul described.

One could say the star of the show was the first to appear on stage, with Toto, played by Biscuit running from stage left to right and immediately capturing all our hearts. Biscuit’s endearing “pick-me-up” behaviour during Somewhere Over the Rainbow only added to the charm.

I cannot emphasise enough Paul’s comments regarding the character portrayals in this production. The cast played these well-known roles with a pleasing balance of individual interpretation while still maintaining the recognisable essence of the characters.

I must record a special note of congratulations to Jamie Wilson as the Tin Man—outstanding indeed. Euan Barnby as the Lion and Elliott Winhall as the Scarecrow were also excellent. However, Jamie suffered a major costume malfunction during the performance. Quite how he managed to continue with his right leg essentially falling down was remarkable and a true testament to his professionalism.

The direction and vocals were strong, but I must highlight one member of the production team. During the interval I was informed that this was Ellie Johnstone’s first outing as choreographer. All I can say is ‘wow’. The standard of movement throughout the production was brilliant, and I very much look forward to seeing further shows in which Ellie is involved.

In summary, many congratulations to everyone involved on what can only be described as a fantastic show. I look forward to The Band (14–17 July) and Our House – The Madness Musical (3–7 November).

Andy Brown
NODA West Midlands Regional Councillor
 

 

Forget There is nowhere like home, there was nowhere like Sutton Coldfield the week this show was on. All at Sutton Coldfield 

 

 

 

 

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