The Wizard of Oz

Ossett Youth Theatre Juniors’ production of The Wizard of Oz, staged at Horbury Methodist Church, was an absolute delight from start to finish and demonstrated once again why this company continues to go from strength to strength under the leadership of Sue Winstanley and Jessica Winstanley.

The production made excellent use of a basic set, proving that imagination and creativity are often far more effective than extravagant staging. The lighting design complemented the scenery superbly, helping to transport the audience seamlessly from the sepia tones of Kansas to the colourful magic of Oz. Different scenes were created extremely effectively, and the atmosphere throughout was enhanced by clever technical choices. Alicia Cooper’s set design deserves huge praise; it was imaginative yet simple, showing that you do not need an elaborate build to tell the story well. The turning house effect was particularly impressive, while the reveal and presentation of the Wizard was brilliantly conceived.

Leading the company as Dorothy Gale was Harriet Ling, who delivered an assured and confident performance throughout. From the opening moments in Kansas through to the emotional finale, Harriet carried the production with maturity and warmth. Her rendition of songs such as Over the Rainbow was heartfelt and beautifully performed, and she demonstrated excellent stage presence throughout the evening. Special mention must also go to Harriet’s handling of Toto — played by a real dog — which was exceptional. Anyone who has worked with animals on stage will know the challenges involved, but Harriet managed the role and the dog with complete professionalism. I am sure Darla or Teddy greatly appreciated the abundance of treats on offer to ensure everything went smoothly on stage.

Oliver Bond gave a fantastic interpretation of Hunk and the Scarecrow. From the moment the character appeared during If I Only Had a Brain, Oliver fully embodied the awkward physicality required of the role. The flexibility in the arms and legs, the inability to stand tall away from the pole, and the wonderfully exaggerated movement all demonstrated a clear understanding of the character and exactly what was required. It was a highly entertaining and believable performance.

Jessica Reddish portrayed Hickory and the Tin Man with excellent characterisation. Before being oiled, the stiffness and restricted movement were particularly well observed, while her diction throughout was crystal clear. During numbers such as If I Only Had a Heart, Jessica maintained strong vocal delivery alongside consistent character work, making for a very engaging performance.

Georgia Kirk, as Zeke and the Cowardly Lion, brought an infectious energy to the stage. Quite simply, the energy she delivered as the Lion needed bottling and selling because it brought enormous joy to everyone in the auditorium. Georgia’s comic timing was excellent, and her performance during If I Only Had the Nerve was full of life, enthusiasm, and personality.

Grace Jackman was a graceful and elegant Glinda who looked perfectly suited to the role. Her appearances brought warmth and calmness to the production, and she carried herself with poise throughout.

Mary Stones as Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West was perfectly cast. The production team absolutely got this one right. Mary created a genuinely intimidating villain while still maintaining the fun and theatricality needed for a family audience. Her wicked laugh was truly terrifying at times and was one of the standout character moments of the evening. During scenes including The Merry Old Land of Oz and the Witch’s confrontations with Dorothy and friends, Mary fully commanded the stage.

Holly Erguven gave a wonderful performance as Professor Marvel and the Wizard. Despite being a smaller role in comparison to others, Holly brought fantastic characterisation and energy to both parts, making every appearance memorable and engaging.

Sophie Weaver as Aunt Em and Alfred Higgins as Uncle Henry both delivered warm and believable performances, creating a genuine sense of care and love for Dorothy in the Kansas scenes. Their sincerity helped ground the story emotionally before the whirlwind adventure to Oz began.

The supporting cast also deserve enormous praise. Whether appearing as the Doorman, Horse, Coroner, Barrister, Crows, Apple Trees, Lullaby League, Lollipop Guild, Winkie Leader, Nico, or the many Munchkins, Ozians, Monkeys, Winkies, and Jitterbugs, every performer contributed wholeheartedly to the success of the production. There were simply too many excellent performances to mention individually, but the commitment and enthusiasm from the entire company was evident throughout.

Jessica Winstanley’s choreography once again highlighted her understanding of both her performers and the performance space available. Working within the limitations of the venue is no easy task, but every movement sequence was slick, tidy, and exceptionally well thought through. She clearly knows how to choreograph to the strengths and talents of her cast while ensuring the stage never felt overcrowded or underused.

Musical Director Sue Winstanley continues to draw impressive vocals and harmonies from the young performers she works with. Numbers throughout the production were well balanced musically, and the ensemble singing demonstrated strong preparation and confidence.

Costumes were appropriate, effective, and importantly age-appropriate, complementing both the production style and the young cast extremely well.

Overall, this was an absolutely brilliant production from Ossett Youth Theatre Juniors. The company continues to go from strength to strength, producing theatre that is imaginative, polished, and full of heart. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this magical journey to life.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.