The Wizard of Oz (the pantomime)

What a great sight to see such a packed hall and a success story for the group.

The production team pulled out all the stops in this lively, bright, and happy show, much enjoyed by all present. Some new talent to work on as the society grows from strength to strength. Barry Bailey, (with help from Katie Wright), transformed himself into Director after playing the wicked Sheriff last season and certainly maintained the standard. Jon Settle and his group gave us lively and modern music and kept the voices in style and the toes tapping. Choreographer Sam Hoffman had the stage moving well. June Lewis and her wardrobe team should be congratulated for making most of the excellent costumes, just loved those delightful little Munchkins and wanted to take them home for my mantelpiece! And as for the makeup, how many hours put in to bring about this imagination and style, truly excellent work from the whole team to bring these characters to life. Liked the traditional monotone into colour transformation, worked well. Large chorus in many supporting roles.

We all know the story but not seen before in pantomime mode with Aunt Em as the Dame and Harry as the Buttons character, ‘good and bad’ as the two witches as expected along with the other Oz characters in this Spotlight Publications script.

Thetford seems to delight in finding these talented youngsters as they finish formal education before rushing off to university, each year we see them appearing and then they disappear for the next crop to come along. Luke Jeffries as Aunt Em is an example as he goes off to study Maths at University later in the year, but in the meantime, second year in role and how much learnt to be a dame, looked good, strong voice, timing and style good.

As Harry (not Potter) a dynamic approach and lively friendly manner from Michael Heslop who worked very well with all the cast and particularly with Dorothy. On the travels and Dorothy’s friends and companions Scarecrow from Amanda Kingsnorth, Tinman from George Cooke, and Lion from Josh Plumley, all played their parts to the full and extracted everything needed for this familiar story; young George and Josh really moving up the ranks from the juvenile roles, interesting to watch progress, but worked hard. Even younger for Toto from Jess Staight, and that pair of irrepressible monkeys Salt and Pepper from William Bailey and Oliver Matthews coerced into working for the wicked witch and performing with great timing.

To the opposing sides with Emma Kelly as Glinka looking suitably pink and good, nice voice, and the green colour to Liz Staight in her element as the Wicked Witch of the West, very strong character role and how we all hated her and her manipulations.

And to the star of the show, Charlie Wilson as Dorothy with the vocals and the acting skills to make this part her own, and to interact with all the rest of the cast with such joy and a lovely smile; been working with the group 5 years and hoping her course in Musical Theatre Diploma gives her the chance that she deserves from this showing.

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