It might have been more than 80 years since the classic movie The Wizard of Oz wowed audiences, but we have to say the stage show was just as wonderful.
The team behind the show did a great job bringing some of the magic of the 1939 classic movie into this production.
As the curtain lifted, a huge screen projected the fields of the Kansas, cattle and ranches, transporting us thousands of miles away to the mid-western US state. When Dorothy, played by Aviva Tulley, belted out ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ the mix was just magical!
We all know the iconic story, Dorothy and her dog Toto (more about Toto later) are caught in a storm and find themselves in Munchkin Land! But they also inadvertently kill the Wicked Witch of the East and land themselves in trouble with her mean sister the Wicked Witch of the West.
And so begins an adventure travelling along the yellow brick road to find the Wizard of Oz and a way home to Kansas. Along the way Dorothy is joined by new friends The Scarecrow, (played by Benjamin Yates) The Tin Man (played by Martin McCarthy) and The Cowardly Lion (Nic Greenshields) who together must dodge the spells of the Wicked Witch of the West, played by The Vivienne, and help her get home and find themselves a brain, a heart and courage respectively!
Looking out for Dorothy is Glinda, the good witch, who rides the most fantastic pink scooter! In fact her pink ensemble (outfit, helmet, goggles and mobile phone) gave us Barbie vibes! The Munchkins were given a modern spin, watch out for the selfies with Dorothy. In fact, there were so many funny moments – the lion fighting the castle guards with his tail, Scarecrow’s quips and do watch out for the Witch’s demise!
For an mid-week evening show there were lots of children in the audience – and they certainly seemed to be enthralled. The costumes were fantastic – bright and fun (lampshades for poppy heads) while the set made great use of the giant screen integrating with the live action.
We said we would come back to Toto – think the puppets of War Horse and you would be spot on for Toto the dog. Abigail Matthews was brilliant as the puppeteer – her attention to detail was spot on with every sniff, sneeze, movement or wag of the tail.
The show is on at Oxford’s New Theatre until Sunday, for tickets or more information view https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-wizard-of-oz/new-theatre-oxford/
Where: Oxford’s New Theatre
When: Wed 10 Jan – Sun 14 Jan 2024
The Wizard of Oz UK Tour Cast:
- Aviva Tulley as Dorothy
- Benjamin Yates as The Scarecrow
- Martin McCarthy as The Tin Man
- Nic Greenshields as The Cowardly Lion
- The Vivienne as the Wicked Witch of the West
- Emily Bull as Glinda
- Abigail Matthews as Toto
