 |
Dorothy (Amelia Calvert) rescues Scarecrow (Harry Apps) from
the bothersome crows. (Note it’s only Toto’s
- AKA Toby’s - body double in the basket!)
|
Goodbye
Yellow Brick Road (The Wizard of Oz)
If you missed the recent StageSmart production of The Wizard
of Oz at Cirencester’s Bingham Hall, then you missed a treat. However, if you
were one of the nearly 1000 people who did attend on the 7th – 9th
April then you will know that you witnessed a theatrical extravaganza of the
highest quality.
Using a minimalist set, coupled with dramatic back
projection, it effectively evoked both the wide open spaces of the Kansas
prairie and the magical charm of the Emerald City, with the famed yellow brick
road connecting front of house with the stage. StageSmart founder Iwan Lewis, more than ably
assisted by director Benn-Llewellyn Williams, choreographer Kelly-Marie Hook
and musical supremos Isaac McCullough and Rudy Percival, created a visual and
auditory feast.
StageSmart was set up to encourage children from five years
upwards to develop their latent talent.
Iwan said recently that he believed there was an enormous amount of
potential in the Cirencester area, which was clearly demonstrated in the performances
they gave. From the youngest, at just
six years old, to the main characters ranging from thirteen to seventeen years,
the whole cast pulled together to produce a memorable performance. The starring role of Dorothy, was superbly
played by 13 year old Amelia Calvert with a natural confidence beyond her
years.
Harry Apps (16) as the Scarecrow was both convincing and
entertaining, and seventeen year old James Lee (despite being a bit rusty)
played the difficult role of the Tin Man with humour and maturity. The clear audience favourite in this
production, however, was the Cowardly Lion played by Ollie Humphries (17), who
brought the character to life with comic false bravado in an endearing
interpretation of the role.
Sixteen year old Iona Burston, who played the lead role of
Constance in last summer’s musical the Clockmaker’s Daughter, took on the part
of the Wicked Witch of the West with authority and menace, whilst Emma Perry
(17), playing the good witch Glinda, sensitively counterbalanced this with
traditional warm pink froth and kindness.
The spectacular finale was the undoing of the Wizard of Oz,
played by Scott Adams, whose brilliantly projected maniacal, despotic persona
was exposed as a complete sham when they looked behind the curtain. It all ended happily, as these stories
should.
Never work with children and animals, they say, but the
performances of the Munchkins and Toto the dog (Toby aged five) certainly
disproved this adage!
Review by Carlo Vuolo and Jan Sparrow
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