Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the much loved 1939 MGM movie, The Wizard of Oz is a timeless musical. Though featuring some tiny changes, this version by the Royal Shakespeare Company includes everyone’s favourite songs, including – of course – ‘Over the Rainbow’.
All young Dorothy Gale wants is to feel loved – though after a tornado blows her and her pet dog Toto to the enchanted land of Oz, she is more focused on returning home to Kansas. We follow her quest to the Emerald City with her friends the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, witness her defeat the evil Wicked Witch of the West and unmask the mysterious Wizard of Oz, and learn, as Dorothy does, that ‘There’s no place like home’.
Staged by Packemin Productions, this The Wizard of Oz features some huge production numbers (e.g. ‘Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead’ and ‘The Merry Old Land of Oz’), including massive numbers of delighted children as the Munchkins, in bright spotted and/or striped costumes and wigs. The ensemble work was very well handled. Mention must also be made of ‘Jitterbug’ sequence in Act Two (with possible shades musically of ‘Bali Ha’i’ from South Pacific?) with a visually exciting use of UV lighting. Camilla Jakimowicz’s interesting choreography moves the show along well.
The orchestra, under the sparkling direction of Peter Hayward, was excellent. There were magnificent sets (especially the Wicked Witch’s castle and Emerald City) and Sean Clarke’s lighting was superb – his lyrical washes for the opening section must particularly be mentioned. The dramatic ‘twister’ scene, with the house and swirling storm was also very well done.
In the iconic blue and white dress and ruby slippers, Dorothy, the famous Judy Garland role, was magnificently played by Laura Murphy. We see her character change, grow and develop, learning further about herself, love and family as in all good ‘quest’ stories. Her ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ was exquisitely sung.
The roles of farmhand Hunk and the big-hearted Scarecrow (‘If I Only Had a Brain’) was marvellously played by the wobbly, seemingly boneless Jimmy Rees (of Giggle and Hoot). Fabulous.
The dual role of Hickory and Tinman, who seeks a heart, was terrifically played, sung and danced by Luke Joslin. His tap numbers were especially splendid.
Adam Scicluna as Zeke and the Cowardly Lion (‘Courage!’) has a magnificent time hamming it up and stealing the show every chance he gets, and was especially impressive with his huge tenor aria, ‘If I Were King of the Forest’ – brilliant. The audience was in fits over his hilarious antics and in-jokes, and the children loved him.
As Dorothy’s horrid neighbour Almira Gultch, and later as the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West, Zoe Tidemann – in sombre black dress and swirling cape – was chilling, and could potentially be quite scary for young children. Her team of flying monkeys was tremendously done, as were her slaves, the ominous, faceless Winkies, with their robotic chant and walk. The poppy fields which the Wicked Witch traps Dorothy and her friends in at the close of Act One here were present as a beautiful 1920’s-like ballet, featuring dancers in apricot-pink costumes with huge hats.
Elizabeth Smith as Glinda was a young girl’s benevolent vision in soft pink with a silver tiara.
Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz himself was excellently played by the very handsome Simon Ward, channelling his inner Matt Smith (Doctor Who) with a très chic silver waistcoat as the Wizard.
Ian Johnson in his dual role as Uncle Henry and the imposing Guard (with huge green butterfly-like eyebrows) was also terrific, and Toto (Miss Suzie) was extremely cute.
A splendid, enchanting production for young and old alike. The children in the audience (for whom quite a few it was their first theatre visit, I gather) loved it. But at just under three hours the evening performances might finish a bit late for quite young children, for whom the matinee performances will be perfect.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Packemin Productions present
The Wizard of OZ
By L. Frank Baum
Music and Lyrics: Harold Arlen and E.V. Harburg
Background music: Herbert Stothart
Dance and vocal arrangements: Peter Howard
Orchestration: Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Director: Neil Gooding
Musical Director: Peter Hayward
Choreographer: Camilla Jakimowicz
Original set and costume design: Josh McIntosh
Set coordinator: Neil Shotter
Costume Design: Cassandra Pascoli
Lighting Design: Sean Clarke
Sound Design: Simon Koenig
Cast include Laura Murphy, Jimmy Rees, Adam Scicluna, Luke Joslin, Zoe Tidemann, Simon Ward, Elizabeth Smith, Jan Mahoney, Ian Johnson, Joshua Williams, Stephen Edney, Damien Hempstead, Alannah Pollack, Victoria Shahho, Charlie Oliver, Hudson Musty and Miss Suzie
Running time: Two hours 50 minutes (approx) including one interval
Parramatta Riverside Theatres
8 – 23 February
