The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz
Music: Harold Arlen. Lyrics: E.Y. Harburg. Additional Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Additional Lyrics: Tim Rice. Adaptation: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Jeremy Sams. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New Production, produced by John Frost and Suzanne Jones, by arrangement with The Production Company. Adelaide Festival Centre. April 1 – 29.

You can be pretty sure sentimental childhood memories are in play when there are more adults than youngsters in an audience for a production that is, in reality, a children’s story. The Wizard of Oz is such a show and it’s magical.

The current touring production is now in Adelaide and locals are heading to Oz in droves to see what the fuss is about for this new Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams adaptation, which is based on the London Palladium production.

This Wizard, directed by Jeremy Sams, is a theatrical yellow brick road worth travelling and is a very different beast than the story that emanated from the pages of L. Frank Baum’s book, first published in 1900. The new adaptation has also stepped out of the shadow of the later Judy Garland film. Evolution changes everything and the current stage production has deliberately transformed to the tastes of 21st century audiences.

Fantastic lighting effects, excellent use of projection, innovative characterisation, some new songs and music and brilliant colour design have conspired seamlessly to ensure that while it still contains elements of the film, the newest stage version stands alone rather than as a staged copy of it.

The Twister scene deserves particular mention. The fine sepia-coloured Kansas farm set is violently destroyed by the vortex, yet predominantly achieved through Jon Driscoll’s stunning projection design. Technically very fine; bravo.

The production has been on the road in Australia for months now, yet has a fresh energy that is a credit to all concerned, including the fine cast.

Samantha Dodemaide is delightful as Dorothy, projecting a mix of naïve country girl and determined adventurer. Dodemaide is also very skilled at capturing the wonder inherent in this classic story. Her singing voice is strong, clear and emotive.

Anthony Warlow is terrific as Professor Marvel/The Wizard and obviously savours the new songs Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have collaborated on for the professor. These, along with other new songs and music, are effective in complementing the original Harold Arlen/E.Y. Harburg score.

Lucy Durack shimmers; all sweetness and light as Glinda the Good, while Jemma Rix has her tongue placed firmly in her cheek when she snarls and glowers as the Wicked Witch of the West. Both actors have a fine sense of comic timing.

Eli Cooper as Hunk/The Scarecrow, Alex Rathgeber as Hickory/Tin Man and John Xintavelonis as Zeke/the Lion are brilliant in their original interpretations of iconic characters; sublime.

Ensemble work in both voice and dance is first-rate, as is the choreography.

Tiny audience favourites, terriers Trouble and Flick are superb in their joint role as Dorothy’s loyal dog Toto. In talking to Trainer Luke Hura, it seems little Flick does the quieter scenes, while Trouble is the ‘action man’ of this shaggy double act and does the second half all by himself.  Luke is to be congratulated on his training expertise. The dogs’ skills brought a tear to my eye as Luke’s mentor was my late father, also a well-known dog trainer in his time.

The Wizard has reinvented itself, creating a glittering spectacle that even outshines the towering Emerald City. Don’t miss it.

Lesley Reed

Photographer:Jeff Busby

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