The Wizard of Oz in Pantomime by Emma Houldershaw & Samantha Cartwright

The full house set off to Kansas, Auntie Em’s farm and the twister that knocked poor Dorothy on the head and led her to the Emerald City via the Yellow Brick Road, well-marked out on the hall central aisle.

A good script based on the story we all know so well, interspersed with some most appropriate musical pieces, proved a great good v bad entertainment. This was Margaret and Malcolm’s first venture into directing offering them both challenge and reward – result a well-balanced, interesting, funny and colourful production, with the cast pulling out all the stops. Children and adults too joined in with booing and hissing the nasty Wicked Witch, with the mandatory spook ‘he’s behind you’  and performed heartily during the audience participation number.

I liked the monochrome A5 programme which was easy to read, uncomplicated yet contained all pertinent information,  produced by Malcolm Atfield.

A stalwart team of five designed, constructed and painted some fine scenery for a confined space.  An angled farmhouse door, small flats with corn, a poppy field, good signage, the backcloth of a haunted forest, the witch’s castle and outline of the Emerald City. Added effects were great, the flying crows Scarecrow couldn’t deter, use of the black curtain for the twister storm (although I think a bit of the Tinman’s oil might have helped it run) lanterns, a magic getaway balloon wired across the hall, tooting owls with illuminated eyes, atmospheric lighting and good use of sound, of course, designed by Gary Pope, The Wizard himself. I particularly liked the Yellow Brick Road from the stage central steps and close connection with the audience.

Isla Hall did credit to the leading role of Dorothy dressed in blue, hair in plaits and a wonderful pair of sparkling silver shoes.  A delightful solo. After playing Dame last year Beatrice Dixon became a loveable, cuddly Auntie Em with a nice bit of comedy coming through. A great ‘Harry Potter’ theme of mistaken identity, Richard Baszczak played love struck Harry Trotter. With Imogen Beale having progressed from a ‘babe’ to Scarecrow,  she characterised so very well in her sackcloth trimmed with straw and flippy floppy hat. Softy, smiling, scared, Lion was Margaret Punter, whilst David Bourne, sometimes dame, played a chatty, camp Tinman in a brilliant shiny suit, complete with oil can and flower on his head. A part to get your teeth into and be a nasty, was green faced witch returner Jac Young – strong, but of course defeated by good her sister Glinda in white and sparkly, perfect for Lyn Ford with her blond hair. A good duet too. Young Imogen Vernon Gill wore an all in one doggy costume and made an agile, devoted Toto.

The comedy duo was brilliant, Lewis Ikin and Fleur Sayers working together as a couple of monkeys, Salt and Pepper, complete with tails and ears from baseball hats, and excellent face painting, a pair of rapping Witch’s henchmen, who turned goodies. Great accents and action and led each side of the audience to make quite a sound! An amusing rap presenting various chocolate bars was very clever. Other cameo roles were taken by members of the ensemble including some wonderful leaved umbrellas moving trees, Wizard guards, Munchkins, and Spook all adding to a very rounded performance.

Costume ladies Margaret Punter and Lyn Ford must be congratulated on their colourful costumes, together with good make-up, hair styling, numerous props, adding to the thoroughly enjoyable trip to Oz.

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