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A cyclone hits New Wimbledon Theatre this week as The Wizard of Oz swirls onto the stage, and it’ll blow your stripy socks off! It is a vibrant, daring and dynamic reimagining of the basic film, containing sufficient of the unique to recognise, however bringing the songs and characters energetically updated. It begins with a bang, lifting the roof proper from the overture, and turns into a vibrant spectacle. Targeted firmly on household leisure, the present lands comfortably someplace between panto and camp musical: mates of Dorothy most welcome! High identify casting contains the magnificent Gary Wilmott because the Wizard, in a small…
Ranking
Glorious
A cyclone of daring color and magical musical leisure to blow your stripy socks off!
A cyclone hits New Wimbledon Theatre this week as The Wizard of Oz swirls onto the stage, and it’ll blow your stripy socks off! It is a vibrant, daring and dynamic reimagining of the basic film, containing sufficient of the unique to recognise, however bringing the songs and characters energetically updated. It begins with a bang, lifting the roof proper from the overture, and turns into a vibrant spectacle. Targeted firmly on household leisure, the present lands comfortably someplace between panto and camp musical: mates of Dorothy most welcome!
High identify casting contains the magnificent Gary Wilmott because the Wizard, in a small but completely fashioned efficiency. But it surely’s The Vivienne who dazzles, taking part in the Depraved Witch. She is an emerald goddess; managed however crazed and armed with a bazooka-style broomstick that’s excitingly fuelled with pyrotechnic energy. Opening the second half, her beautiful efficiency of ‘Crimson Shoe Blues’ actually punches issues up a degree. And sure, I’m resentful at that voice and make up…
Aviva Tulley as Dorothy has the voice of an angel, filling the auditorium gloriously with an amazing ‘Over the Rainbow’, marred solely barely by peculiar American pronunciation. Her steadfast teen runaway may also profit from a contact extra vulnerability to provide full vary to the character.
Many of the comedy comes from her trio of mates, performed in satisfyingly complementary kinds. Benjamin Yates is wonderful because the Scarecrow. A terrific dancer and singer, he additionally fortunately embraces silliness in a completely endearing approach. Our Tin Man (Marley Fenton) is reconfigured and upgraded, with a suggestion of Iron Man within the costume and a contact of Lin Manuel included within the supply. His transition into motion when oiled is a spotlight, demonstrating glorious bodily efficiency. Funniest of all is the Lion, performed by Nic Greenshields, who provides a pleasant nod to the movie in his characterisation however energises it along with his interesting signature type. Each element of his efficiency provides to the humour, and feeds into the nice and cozy sense of companionship the trio create. Toto is performed in puppet kind aided by Abigail Mathews, who does an amazing job of animating him, however the canine itself is disappointingly stiff and picket. Emily Bull as Glinda deserves a shout out for her fabulous soprano, they usually’re all supported by an upbeat ensemble.
It is a daring present; loud and visually lavish. Douglas O’Connell’s video projections are at occasions very good and evocative – significantly within the beautiful early storm scene – and in addition trace sympathetically to the unique movie. Nonetheless, at different factors there’s a lot occurring it may possibly turn out to be overwhelming, with the added hazard of movement illness as we’re rollercoastered between places. When mixed with Colin Richmond‘s advanced, versatile set design and Rachel Canning’s vibrant (sometimes verging on psychedelic) costumes, they actually give the manufacturing added life!
Our journey alongside the yellow brick highway is, after all, pushed ahead by a group of iconic songs that may’t fail to get your monkeys flying. With further twists courtesy of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, classics resembling ‘If I Solely Had a Coronary heart’, ‘The Merry Outdated Land of Oz’, ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Lifeless’ and (my explicit favorite) ‘March of the Winkies’ are all refreshingly up to date, with musical supervisor George Dyer overseeing meticulous supply from the orchestra.
This Wizard of Oz has all of the essence of the film however reimagined, compressed and shot from a cannon in a vibrant rainbow of music and leisure. It’s a enjoyable evening out for household and mates, so seize your ruby slippers and set off for the Emerald Metropolis!
Music by: Harold Arlen
Lyrics by: E.Y. Harburg
Further music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Further lyrics by Tim Rice
Adaptation by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams
From the guide by L. Frank Baum
Directed by Nikolai Foster
Choreography by Shay Barclay
Set design by Colin Richmond
Projection design by Douglas O’Connell
Costume and puppet design by Rachael Canning
Lighting design by Ben Cracknell
Sound design by Adam Fisher
Artistic guide: Mark Kaufman
Musical Supervision: George Dyer
The Wizard of Oz runs at New Wimbledon Theatre till Saturday 16 March and touring throughout the Uk till August 2024.
Additional info and reserving might be discovered right here.
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