The Wizard of Oz

Despite a rehearsal period fraught with cast illness Adelaide Youth Theatre has once again demonstrated its depth of talent and professionalism by pulling off a delightful production of The Wizard of Oz.

Written by L. Frank Baum and adapted by Frank Gabrielson, with music and lyrics from the MGM Motion Pictures score, the story needs no description here. The narrative has been well-known since the days when Judy Garland played Dorothy in the movie.

The musical is a perfect vehicle to display Adelaide Youth Theatre’s senior and junior casts together in one production and talent abounds throughout both the Rubies and Emeralds alternating casts. On opening night The Ruby cast was on show.

Madeline Grey was delightful as Dorothy, displaying a strong singing voice and a nuanced character.

The star quality of Geogia Bolton shone through in her energetic and hysterically funny portrayal of the Wicked Witch. She was funny and scary at the same time, making the most of her lines for the benefit of the young audience.

As Lion, Jamie Hornsby almost stole the show. He was brilliant; funny, vulnerable and an audience favourite.

Wade Lindstrom as Tin Man and Benji Riggs as Scarecrow were fantastic, especially in making the most of the physical aspects of their characters- one stiffly jointed, the other loose-limbed and taking frequent falls.

Nathan Stafford was confidence and personality personified as the Wizard of Oz.

As Toto the dog, tiny little canine Berkley was a show- stealer and his human equivalent, Sascha Czuchwicki was a fine Toto, too.

The remaining featured young actors of the Rubies cast were uniformly excellent on opening night, as were the various ensemble groups.

To direct such a large young cast requires skill indeed and in her directorial debut Rachel Rai succeeds admirably, as does choreographer, Suzy Jones.

Josh Belperio, at age only nineteen, does a wonderful job of conducting the off-stage orchestra and it is interesting to see his efforts on live screens within the auditorium.

Costumes and makeup are once again at Adelaide Youth Theatre’s high standard.

Use of projected backdrops works well in designating the many scenes.

Pace on opening night, particularly between scenes, dropped at times, but picked up well in the second act.

This is a long production and on opening night it tested the capacity of some little audience members to stay awake, but stay awake they did, to enjoy a fantastic family show.

Lesley Reed