Every year the White Rock Youth Theatre stage a summer project and, for 2015, they have chosen to perform the classic MGM musical, the Wizard of Oz. With a cast of actors, all aged 8 to 19, taken from the members of the theatre group, they sing and dance their way through some of the most memorable songs and scenes that are familiar to most, if not all, of the near capacity audience.
With clever use of video, Director Nathan Potter and Producer Nikki Leach, are able to convey the swirling tornado and flying house quite well and, before very long, we find ourselves landing in the wonderfully colourful Munchkinland and, although we are quite safe, the Wicked Witch of the East doesn’t fare so well and is, “not only merely dead, she’s really most sincerely dead!”
All our favourite characters from the film, and the original RSC stage production, are faithfully recreated on the White Rock Theatre stage, with tremendous attention going into the vast array of costumes used and the colourful and practical scenery. With such a large cast it is very important not to crowd the stage and it is very obvious that a great deal of thought has gone into this, with snow, bubbles, fireworks and stage explosions used to enhance the various scenes instead of masses of scenery.
Sadly, with such a huge cast is is impossible to mention them all, despite the fact that they all work so hard, but a few actors who stand out are Skylar Butterworth, who is very funny as the Chief Winkie, Freddie Dean, who looks every inch the part as the Mayor of Munchkinland, Tomek Jensen, who dances his socks off in the Jitterbug, Harley Gentry who, again with superb use of video, makes a very menacing Wizard and Luke Heys, who doubles up as Uncle Henry and a very emotional Emerald City Guard.
Tallulah Brooks as Dorothy is a little overwhelmed when taking the stage alone but, once surrounded by the enthusiastic cast, seems to enjoy playing the part much more. As Glinda the Good Witch, Carys Williams uses her experience and good singing voice to good effect and, obviously, loves playing the role.
Once she can cast off the robes of prim and proper Miss Gulch, Katherine Fry really throws herself into the role of the Wicked Witch of the West and is deliciously evil right through to her fateful meeting with a bucket of water, a scene that works particularly well in this production.
Three people who work tirelessly throughout the show, and who certainly win the admiration and applause from their audience are Oliver Whitehead, who takes on the roles of the farmhand Hickory and the Tin Man, Nathan McDonald who plays Hunk and also the Scarecrow and, following on from his spectacular performance as Edna Turnblad in last year’s production, Hairspray, Charlie Evans-Rouse as the third farmhand Zeke and also the superbly camp Cowardly Lion.
Considering that this is an amateur production, from a youth theatre group, it is obvious that an awful lot of time, effort, money and unending dedication has gone into making this show the success that it is and the enthusiastic applause and excited cheers at the curtain calls show just how much the audience appreciate that.
Three Stars ***
