WIZARD OF OZ to 11 January 2009
Northampton
THE WIZARD OF OZ
By L.Frank Baum. With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Royal and Derngate Theatre to 11 January 2009
Mon. to Sat. 7.15pm. Matinees at 1.15pm or 2.15pm
Runs 2hrs 30 mins: one interval
Tickets: 01604 624811.
www.royalandderngate.co.uk
Review: Ian Spiby, posted 6 December 2008.
A thoroughly delightful family show
To mount a full-scale production of this iconic musical with limited budget, time and resources is not a task for the faint-hearted but Laurie Sansom and his designer Sarah Perks succeed magnificently. In the place of expensive technical effects they use imaginative theatrical devices which are often more effective. And of course, Sansom knows what every good director knows - that it is the cast who are going to cause the production to fail or succeed. And succeed they do!
The linchpins of the show are of course, Dorothy (Natalie Burt) and her friends Tin Man (Darren J Fawthrop), Scarecrow (Marc Pickering) and Cowardly Lion (Harry Morrison) who perform with unbounded energy and commitment throughout. They are supported unflaggingly by the rest of the cast and so uniformly good are they that it is invidious to single any one out for special mention. However, I much enjoyed Christine Holman’s ditsy Glinda the Good Witch while David Webber and Anthony Houghton’s two Crows, dressed in black suits like elders of the community, had me rocking with laughter.
Nearly everyone played two or even three parts with great élan and while there were some nail-bitingly quick changes of costume and make-up, they all succeeded remarkably. And finally I cannot fail to remark on Parker’s seminal performance of Toto the dog: his laser-like concentration on the sausage held at the end of Professor Marvel’s toasting fork and the subsequent devouring of the same spread ripples of audible delight around the audience.
The choreography was of an exceptionally high standard as one might expect from such an experienced dancer as Darren J. Fawthrop - the Jitterbug scene being particularly noteworthy, while the projections designed by Andrzej Goulding were exceptionally effective – I shall remember the flying cow for a long time!
A thoroughly enjoyable production and an ideal entertainment for the family at Christmas
Cast: Dorothy: Natalie Burt, Tin Woodsman/Hickory: Darren J. Fawthrop, Glinda the Good Witch/Auntie Em/Jitterbug: Christine Holman, Emerald City Guard/Uncle Henry/Crow: Anthony Houghton, Cowardly Lion/Zeke: Harry Morrison, Scarecrow/Hunk: Marc Pickering, Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gultch: Kate Russell-Smith, Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel/Crow: David Webber, Parker or Bradley: Toto.
Director: Laurie Sansom, Musical Director: Ian MacGregor, Designer: Sara Perks, Choreographer: Darren J. Fawthrop, Associate Director: Adele Thomas, Lighting Designer: Aideen Malone, Sound Designer: Huw Williams, Projection Designer: Andrzej Goulding, Orchestrator: Steve Edis, Casting Director: Sooki McShane, Deputy Stage Manager: Tanith MacKenzie. Musicians: Ian MacGregor, Nicki Hutchins, Richard Luck, Kevin Waterman.
2008-12-07 12:28:21