THE WIZARD OF OZ. To 30 December.
Edinburgh.
THE WIZARD OF OZ.
by L.Frank Baum Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg.
adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Royal Lyceum Theatre To 30 December 2007.
7-8, 12-15, 18-24, 26-30 Dec various daters 2.30pm, 7pm.
Runs 2hr 15min. One interval.
TICKETS: 0131 248 4848.
www.lyceum.org.uk
Review: Thelma Good 1 December 2007.
You’ll be Somewhere over, Merry Old Land of Ozzing if you go off to Royal Lyceum this Christmas.
Some theatres go in for pantos or Christmas shows; Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum has gone for the musical about a child who wants to fly over the rainbow. No Garland pastiche, Denise Hoey’s Dorothy gives us a fresh flavoured, clear- complexioned girl who sings her songs warm-heartedly.
Playing the farm hands in muted-coloured Kansas are three more entrancing actors. Once Dorothy has been whisked away over the rainbow they take on the roles of her companions. First there’s Matthew Pidgeon’s floppy-limbed, wide-eyed Scarecrow, followed by Sandy Grierson’s silver-clad Tinman, stiff in his gait and finally, frightened of his own shadow, Graham Kent’s Lion. Like Hoey, they hit the right note of believability and singability, which, fused with their characters’ underlying vulnerability, make the heart of this musical beat so well.
Also populating the over-the-rainbow world are the well presented Lyceum Youth Theatre, adding their enthusiasm and developing abilities to the show. It’s not a panto but booing Julie Austin’s melodramatic Wicked Witch of the West is irresistible. Austin doubles as Miss Gultch the Kansas grouch, conveying the brittle fear fuelling the bitter grump. Estrid Barton’s Glinda’s a tad too sugary and soft-voiced, though her Auntie Em bustles well. While Sean Hay’s Uncle Hendry is a touch too awkward, his Emerald Guard parades better. Tim Frances’ Magician pulls off the magic though the film sections, though the disembodied head of the Wizard of Oz undermines his Wizard onstage.
Gill Robertson’s direction and Karen Tennant’s designs bring out the contrasts between the down-to-earth life of farming Kansas and the superficial lives of the Munchins and Winkies. Even the Ozians suggest a distorted society. The adaptation and production bring out how subversive L. Frank Baum’s 1900 tale is, with poppies inducing sleep, rulers who are corrupt or misleading and his message: if you’re not content with what you are, the remedy is to believe in yourself. He also reminds that external endorsement, a diploma, a testimonial or a medal are mere labels unless the person has truly been wise, kind or brave. This Wizard of Oz fully delivers an imaginative tale with its moral.
Dorothy Gale: Denise Hoey.
Auntie Em/Glinda: Estrid Barton.
Uncle Hendry/Emerald Guard: Sean Hay.
Miss Gultch/Wicked Witch: Julie Austin.
Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz: Tim Frances.
Zeke/Cowardly Lion: Graham Kent.
Hickory/Tinman: Sandy Grierson.
Hunk/Scarecrow: Matthew Pidgeon.
Munckins, Winkies, Flying Monkeys, Ozians and Crows played by members of the Lyceum Youth Theatre:
Green Team : Misra Kara, Lucia d’Inverno, Hana Wade, Georgia Gage, Blair Wycherly, Freya Laird, Isa Cowan and Harrison McNeill.
Yellow Team : Alex Bathe, Harry Smart, Sarah Mills, Finlay Tinto, Oliver Smart, Caitlin French, Bythe Jandoo and Edith Wycherly.
Director: Gill Robertson.
Designer: Karen Tennant.
Lighting: Jeanine Davis.
Musical Director: Steven Wren.
Choreographer: Christine Devaney.
Film Maker: Jonathan Charles.
Puppeteer: Rick Conte.
Voice coach: Lynn Bains.
Assistant director: Sacha Kyle.
2007-12-06 02:29:21