Joseph Rowntree Theatre transforms into the wonderful land of Oz this week, as York Musical Theatre Company gives us a taste of a timeless tale.
The Wizard of Oz is a musical theatre must-see, following the adventures of the young Dorothy Gale, who, through a literal twist, ends up in the merry old land of Oz. She simultaneously makes an enemy of the Wicked Witch whilst also becoming an accidental heroine to the Munchkins, leading her to embark on a journey to find the Wizard of Oz and return to her Kansas home and family.
As she goes along her way, she makes some unexpected friends who join her on her adventure, in the hopes that the Wizard can grant their own deepest desires.
The Wizard of Oz is at Joseph Rowntree Theatre from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 May.
Sadie Sorensen is a self-assured Dorothy, who’s swapping her day to day teaching of Biology to create onstage chemistry, alongside her new found companions. Sorensen led the cast brilliantly and delivered a heartfelt performance which captured Dorothy’s innocence and perseverance as she braved the elements ahead of her.
And who played these wayward outcasts turned friends who each brought their own unique charm… Daan Janssen was our fearful lion, who’s deep voice and comic timing made the audience fear nothing. Our Tin Man, Zander Fick was the picture of sincerity and sweetness and, whilst he may not have had his own, he captured our hearts. Finally, Rachel Higgs our charismatic Scarecrow who pumped infectious energy into each scene – and after a slow start, I felt the show really came into its own the moment she appeared as her alter ego and sang ‘If I Only Had a Brain’, with an impressive dance ability to accompany.
Whilst this production is definitely a family favourite, beware of the Wicked Witch/Miss Gulch who may be enough to terrify any grown adult let alone a child with her piercing cackles filling the theatre. You’ll be sure to take Dorothy’s side and wish on flying houses to banish her evil sights from Oz, a well played performance by Jeanette Hunter.
But the undeniable star of the show had to be Daisy the dog, our adorable Toto – I mean how can you not expect the audience to fall in love with her from the moment she graced the stage, with a tail wagging so fearlessly, even Lion would be jealous! As we were transported from Kansas to Oz, we also saw the transition of Toto from our four-legged canine star to a puppet, mastered brilliantly by Adam Gill. I couldn’t help but be fixated on his every action and reaction, the art of puppeteering cannot go under-appreciated.
Although Toto and co may have been following the yellow brick road, it was surprising to see its lack of presence in the set – in its place however were an abundance of large set pieces, which the crew did their best at manoeuvring during difficult scene changes. They worked closely with the brilliant orchestra conducted by musical director John Atkin to try to prevent any awkward pauses where possible.
It wasn’t just the stage which was extravagantly designed, I also appreciated the costuming by Julie Fisher, which got better and better as the show progressed. Our four leads particularly looked the part, as Fisher stayed true to the beloved original designs from the 1939 musical movie. And I believe this rings true for the show as a whole – it didn’t need a re-design or fresh new take, it instead delivered a classic with much authenticity.
We mustn’t forget our fantastic ensemble, whilst they may not be front and centre throughout the shows entirety, they pop up to inject enthusiasm into some of the bigger numbers. ‘Jitterbug’, when they donned their matching hats and sparkling gloves, was a particular highlight. There was at times some uncertainty around choreography, however this could have been first night nerves and you can only commend their efforts.
The final number finished the show so perfectly, showcasing the best of this fantastic group as they came together to reprise ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, a beautiful and harmonic arrangement – sometimes this perfect simplicity is all that is needed.
Follow the yellow brick road to Joseph Rowntree Theatre this week, to join Dorothy and friends!
The Wizard of Oz is playing until Saturday 25 May. Tickets start from £16 and are available via the Joseph Rowntree Theatre website.