THE WIZARD OF OZ. To 12 June.
Oldham
THE WIZARD OF OZ
by L. Frank Baum
Coliseum Theatre To 12 June 2004
Tue-Thu, Sat 7.30pm Fri 8pm
Runs 2hr 40min One interval
A show to show summer too is time to be off to see The Wizard.Oldham's drafted in the ruby slippers, yellow-brick road and Emerald City to beat away the early summer blues: the first weeks of likely hot weather when people discover there are more pleasant places to be than packed into a theatre. In audience terms, it seems to have worked. Artistically, it certainly has a lot going for it.
There have been more technically adventurous Wizards. Bigger-scale ones too. But Kevin Shaw's production uses the Coliseum's limited stage area and technical facilities to fine effect - the wavy outlines of the sepia Kansas farm-buildings hinting at the twister to come, and the bright-coloured elements of Oz mixing with Dorothy's home to suggest the concussive dream that adult reasoning would say has led her to imagine Oz out of recent experiences.
It's just one of the qualities of Lara Pulver's Dorothy that it makes clear technicolour Oz, where she's surrounded by men - the only females are Witches or Munchkins (a lively, well-characterised bunch these are, too) - is a child's attempt to find justice in a world where money and power can buy the law's support.
Here's a world where she can redesign her friends rather than adults let her down. Pulver's bright-eyed girl takes the lead in doing what's right. 'Surrender Dorothy' indeed - Kansas folk might hand over Toto; there's no way the Oz crew would do the same to her.
True, Baum's ending doesn't have the same consistency - a little water clears them of the Wicked Witch indeed (and a daft Witch for having so much liquid to hand, if not on tap), while the Wizard's solutions for the Scarecrow et al don't have much authenticity.
So, it's a good thing these performers involve us so well in their hopes and fears that their triumph makes us forgive all. That's true of a Dorothy who dances with gracious ese. And of her companions. Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion bring a just balance of sympathy and strength, the first two adding some strongly characterised movement, the Lion a neat line in trying to sneak away.
Nicola Bolton seems content to be a pleasant Aunt Em and a smilingly pretty Fairy. But you should never judge actors too soon - her Jitterbug reveals her as a lively, expert dancer too.
Shaw keeps the production moving while making the most of individual scenes, with the kind of detail seen at its best with the Apple Trees and discovery of Tin Man. The designers have a striking solution for the yellow-brick highway, which spirals off into a distant sky among pink clouds - a fine, vertiginous fantasy.
Of course, it's possible to be too junior even for Oz. Around 10pm one very young voice in the Stalls announced to everyone that it wanted to go home. It was just when Dorothy announces her discovery that home's the best place to start looking for what you want. So, maybe it was just someone getting the point of this clear and lively show.
Aunt Em/Glinda/Jitterbug/Apple Tree: Nicola Bolton
Lion/Zeek/Crow: David Broughton Davies
Tin Man/Hickory: Kieran Buckeridge
Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel/Crow: Michael Kirk
Uncle Henry/Guard/Niko/Apple Tree: James Nickerson
Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch: Carol Noakes
Dorothy: Lara Pulver
Scarecrow: David Ruben
MunchkinS
Mayor: Oliver Bell/Christopher Munday
Lolly Toughs: Thomas Sumner/Oliver Hughes, Karis Trelfa
Barrister: Laura Feenan, Abby Higginbotham
Coroner: Rachel Stock/Rachel Parkinson
Elder: Faye Battersby/Alicia Broome
Teacher: Darnel Brownlow/Jayde Leigh
Herald: Olivia Majeed/Lauren McGuigan
Elder: Jade Thomson/Levi Ruddy
Teacher: Norah Lopez-Holden/Rebecca Taylor
Lullaby League: Alex Pearson, Hollie Normanton/Rachel Hollister, Kayleigh Hart
Director: Kevin Shaw
Designers: Charles Cusick Smith, Phil R Daniels
Lighting: Phil Davies
Sound: Anna Holly
Musical Director: John Morton
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Assistant Choreographers: Sarah Ashford, Leah Moore, Katie Swift
2004-06-06 17:27:48