Wizard of OZ

I visited Harleston on Friday night to see a new group of youngsters, the Harleston Players Youth Theatre Company perform a version of the Wizard of Oz by Alfred Bradley, the original play and was pleasantly surprised that it was a drama with music that I had never seen before. I felt, as I found my seat in a packed school studio, the anticipation of the audience for the show to start and I have to say I was not disappointed in this youth production.

Dorothy (Annabelle Perry) struck the role of a lost child determined to get ‘home’, while her dog Toto (Michael Hornsby) worked the puppet with a skill that was truly ‘dog like’. The Scarecrow (George Kelly) had good comedic timing, keeping the dangly personality throughout. The Tin Woman (Skye McWilliam) showed adeptness in retaining the stiffness in her movements and the Cowardly Lion (Spencer Bush) was competent in being scared and frightened, trying to appear brave as a lion should be. The supporting roles played by Zoe Nunn, Jamie Bullen, Annabelle Griffith, Kaitlyn Appleby, Max Hornsby, Niamh Raines, Pippa Barber, Brooke Goddard, Ellie Tooke and Joshua Mack were excellent, with characterisations sharp and cleverly done to enhance the whole staging of this old-fashioned drama. The work effort was outstanding and I particularly liked the live trees and poppies as scenery, moving all the time.

The Director (Meryl Raines) certainly gave us an insight and depth of cast portrayals with all the personnel involved in this musical drama and I enjoyed the appropriate musical songs interacting with the script. Not the easiest of sets to change scenes, this was accomplished with style and did not distract the audience to lose the essence of the scenes. I liked the yellow brick road introduction. The costumes were of the era and the youth carried them well on stage, the suitable props and additions fitted in well with the sets.

The cast made good use of positioning and levels and the auditorium became part of the journey. There were delightful touches of humour, especially the glasses being put on the person operating Toto. I particularly enjoyed the flying scene where the principals were lifted by a triangle of backstage crew and spun around. Be careful when a man has been recast as a woman to ensure the whole script regarding the words ‘tin man’ have been altered accordingly and a beautifully costumed witch at the end of the play swishes her skirt to show suitable undergarments and shoes.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening spent with the talented future of our beloved amateur theatre and long may it continue. Congratulations to everyone involved in this wonderful The Wizard of Oz. Thank you.

 

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.