Wizard of Oz

Many thanks for your warm welcome it was lovely to spend time chatting with the front of house about the production and further events at the theatre.

The iconic story we all know and love was an adaptation of L Frank Baum’s children’s fantasy ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ and brought to life by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1930 musical with music composed by Harold Arlen, adapted by Herbert Stothart and lyrics by E. Y. Harburg. The story covers themes of courage, love and common sense through the main protagonist’s tale.

It was obviously a good choice of production for your company with the auditorium full of a wide range of ages awaiting their entertainment. It was great to hear them all joining in with the numerous well know songs and clapping along to the tunes. Your production team had obviously spent many hours co-ordinating your thirty-three members into a cohesive group who all knew their stage directions impeccably.

Using a backing track precludes the need for a live orchestra but also requires the cast to be on top of every singing track, incidental music, scene change and playoff this your team did with aplomb. The tracks were set at a sensible level so all the dialogue and lyrics could be distinguished. All the hours spent in preparation created a show of a high quality. The other sound cues used during the performance added depth and detail.

You as a group are extremely lucky to have a choreographer of such standing. She created a variety of routines which the cast were able to deliver with clarity. I enjoyed the tap dancing trees, the Charleston like movement of the crows, the phrenetic Jitterbug dance and the repeated steps used by the leads.

The curtained stage was set up with the obligatory yellow brick road set in front of it which was well used during the performance. The white backcloth at the back of the stage was successfully used during the show being lit with a variety of colours and effects with the addition of smoke during the storm. Various painted flats were used to depict doors one of which had the obligatory shutter used by the guard and the out of order sign, the house and walls. I did like the sloped trapdoor stage left which was effectively used as the storm cellar, lifting platform for the balloon and entrance for Glinda.  The additional scenery was well sourced, the white picket fence set the initial scene, the twisting bed and door during the tornado and the curtained areas in Oz. All were managed by the cast and stage crew although I did wonder with other members of cast on the stage, why the crew were moving items during the storm.

It was evident that lots of time had been taken to produce the props both large and small which were great.  They were appropriate to the scene and worked well. The wheel fell of the cart, Professor Marvel’s cart was well signed, the wooden framework for the scarecrow and the upright bicycle with wicker basket looked period. The additional personal props were well used by the cast and the light up broomstick very effective.

As mentioned before the lighting was well designed and used to enhance different scenes and characters.  They various lights were set on a bar in the auditorium and on the stage and two moveable ones both stages left and right.

Your costume co-ordinator certainly took on a task and a half and what a great job she did. It was lovely to see muted period costumes as the beginning of the show in Kansas where the only splash of colour was Dorothy’s red lipstick. When we had travelled over the rainbow its colours enhanced all the wonderful costumes in Oz.

The principals were dressed as expected Dorothy looked wonderful in her blue and white costume. Hunk/ Scarecrow changed from drab work wear to a checked shirt, patched trousers, hessian colour and black hat all adorned with straw detail. The Hickory/Tin Man transformed from his farm hand wear to a silver outfit with funnel headwear and Zeke/Cowardly Lion moved from farm clothes to a furry onesie with magnificent blond mane and tail. Aunt Em looked resplendent in her beautiful pink Glinda dress a great change from skirt and blouse and Uncle Henry green guard was certainly different from his farmer’s outfit. Professor Marvel changed out of his tailcoat and top hat into the Wizard costume. The last of the principals with a duo role was Miss Gulch who looked elegant in her upper-class grey skirt cape and hat and evil in her black decorated Wicked Witches dress.

Not only did the principals change but myriad sets of colourful outfits depicting different characters within the story had to be sourced. The Munchkins outfits were excellent, the constantly moving trees ideal and the red and black poppies with the snowman with their twizzles added to the scene. The sets created for the Flying Monkeys, Winkies and Jitterbugs were uniform but I particularly like the black and silver flapper like costumes for the crows with the addition of feather collars and accoutrements. I did wonder if some of the sets were self sourced by the performers because of a single colour theme. This I felt worked well although I wasn’t sure in Oz if the patterned green dress fitted in with the others, this is just my personal opinion, unless of course she had a different role within the group.  As a wardrobe mistress myself I understand the task she had and loved the choices and concepts behind them. Many congratulations. It was lovely to see that time had been taken to ensure correct footwear was worn and hair and make-up added to the magic.

Your actor playing the pivotal role of Dorothy was a joy to behold. She showed the right amount of determination, compassion and inner steel and brought her to life. Her maintained her accent, spoke clearly and her beautiful clear singing was on point throughout the performance. Her delivery of the iconic ‘Over the Rainbow’ was done with conviction whilst controlling a wandering Toto. She had wonderful rapport with the other members of cast on the stage. A true tour de force performance.

The first duo was Zeke and the Cowardly Lion delivered a great performance. I really liked the fact that your actor carried the character of the lion through from Zeke. He did a great job pretending to be brave only to crumble when told off by Dorothy.  He had a convincing Kansas accent and brilliant comedy timing and his singing of ‘If I Only had the Nerve’ and ‘If I were King of the Forest’ whilst strutting around the stage with his cape was exceptional.

The next pairing was Hickory and the Tin Man and was another successful transference of character from one to another. He delivered his lines in a clear voice and perfected the mechanical movements needed to show what he was made of. He was able to maintain the stillness required before he was oiled and showed resolve to help his new friends. His singing of ‘If I only had a Heart’ was lovely.

The actor depicting both the clumsy farmhand Hunk and the Scarecrow was brilliant. ‘He’ hung believably on the wooden frame while the crows were mocking him and appeared to have rubber limbs when released. ‘He’ created a likeable character with an expressive face who showed a variety of motions during the performance especially when the Wicked Witch broom was alight. ‘If I only had a Brain’ was sung with feeling. I thought the imaginative way he was put back together after being unstuffed was great but maybe his diploma needed tweaking to ensure Pythagoras’ theorem was correct!

Before talking about other characters, I would like to congratulation the casting of the four main characters above for their joint performances in this classic story. They had obviously gelled as a team with wonderful comic timing, true friendship and a wonderful delivery of ‘We’re off to see the Wizard’. Well done all.

Aunt Em was well portrayed as a hard-working Kansas farmer who was loving to Dorothy but determined to maintain the law and spoke clearly in a Kansas accent. Her depiction of Glinda the Good Witch of the North was brilliant, she looked stunning and created a kind character with a steely resolve on top of which her vocals were excellent.

Uncle Henry kept up his accent and showed that he cared for Dorothy when he gave Miss Gulch short shrift when she came complaining about Toto. He played a stern guard all bedecked in green in Oz and was determined to get his message across.

Your player who depicted the supercilious Miss Gulch was not a person you would want to cross. She knew her rights and woe betide anyone who went against her, her manner and stance were ideal. Her alter ego the Wicked Witch of the West was excellent she had good stage presence, great gestures, a clear voice which portrayed her determination to avenge her sister and a good cackle. I think you must have spies in the audience because I was concerned about the positioning of her hat which was shadowing her face during the first half which I mentioned to my husband during the interval but, in the second half it had been tilted back which ensured all her face was visible.

The final pairing was Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz. The Professor arrived bedecked in his tailcoat and top hat pushing his cart with the acclamation that he was known by the ‘Crowned Heads of Europe’. He surreptitiously looked in Dorothy’s basket and using his crystal ball persuaded her to return home. As the Wizard he initially created a persona that was in charge with a commanding voice this changed following his exposure when he became thoughtful and helpful to the group. I thought the exit of the balloon was well managed.

The ’real’ Toto was well behaved and did not appear to be phased by her time on the stage. I thought the substitution was a great idea although there did appear to be a size difference and maybe a larger basket would have been preferable to place her in.

You are lucky to have a talented ensemble and youth and junior chorus who were called upon to perform numerous roles throughout the show all of which they did with self-assurance. There were Munchkins, Crows, Trees, Poppies, Snowmen, Ozians, Winkies, Jitterbugs and Flying Monkeys. Many had lines to deliver, lyrics to sing or dance moves to perfect all of which were well delivered. I cannot personally mention all but I would like to commend the Mayor, Judge and Coroner who spoke clearly in Munchkin land, the singing Trees, the marching Winkies, the lead Jitterbug and Nico.

Your production team obviously had a clear vision for this production and they used all the skills of the entire team to create a stunning show which entertained the complete audience. Many congratulations to all those involved.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

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