The Watermill has done it again! The phenomenal Lord of the Rings was always going to be a hard act to follow. But fizzing with fun, magic, music, dance, inventive lighting, set design, costume and puppets comes The Wizard of Oz. Writer, Marietta Kirkbride, uses elements from the original children’s book and the film to give a new and relevant twenty-first century version and the audience loved it.
The multi-talented actor musicians not only act, sing, dance and play a plethora of instruments but are amazing puppeteers as well. Toto, a very realistic furry ball of a dog charges chaotically around the stage. The dwarf Munchkins are hilarious with finely tuned movements and squeaky voices. The witch Westly’s servant bird, Quadling, moves from scary to vulnerable signalling the journey all the characters make.
The audience of children, grandparents and everybody in-between are transported to the magical world of Oz. And despite its small stage there is plenty of magic provided skilfully by the Wizard of Oz and Westly(Angela Carter) and Glenda(Signe Larsson). The iconic red shoes (here, red boots) play an important part as well.
Dot(Annabel Marlow) moves from stroppy teenager – “Why do I have to live here in the middle of nowhere?” to the realisation that what’s important, even in the twenty-first century with all its problems, is being close to the people you love. Scarrow(Sally Cheung), Tinman(Chris Coxon) and Lionel(James Gulliford) representing brain, heart and courage effectively reinforce the Oz message. Dot tells them “Having a medal or certificate doesn’t change who you are. You don’t need a robotic heart, if someone gives you a piece of their heart you give some back. You can feel afraid and still do the right thing and that’s courage.”
The songs, created especially for the show, add to the audience’s enjoyment and we left with Follow the Yellow Route on and on ringing in our ears.
The Wizard of Oz is playing at the Watermill until Dec 31st. Click here for tickets. Don’t miss it.