WIZARD OF OZ Musical Fantasy. Director: Roche Haupt-Buckle.
Musical Director/Conductor: Alastair Cockburn.
Presented by G&S supported by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
We're Off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a song as popular today as it was when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released the Wizard of Oz in 1939.
This musical version unfolds in merry, sometimes scary, fashion. Conductor Alastair Cockburn, baton in hand, sets the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CTPO) off at a cracking pace through Harold Arlen’s overture leading to Dorothy’s (Jennifer Human) Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
While Cockburn kept the pace going, CTPO sound levels too often drowned out the singers, whose pseudo American twangs did nothing for their diction.
Highest praise goes to backstage crews, lighting designer Faheem Bardien and set designers Michelle Hough and Jaco Janse van Rensburg.
They deserve awards for artistic, ingenuous designs. Sets, flats and props came in flawlessly for numerous scene changes. From all the excellent sets, the Munchkins colourful abstract curls, mealie and poppy fields stood out. As did the “flying” apparatus for Glinda, Wicked Witch and the Wizard.
David Pamplin’s costumes also deserve awards. In various shades of blue, his quaint Munchkin costumes gave the effect of tiny people.
Scarecrow (Pete O’Donoqhue), sprouting straw from his hat and elsewhere, looked a brighter version than Adrian Greenberg’s original.
Tin Man (Nick Plummer) and Lion (David Bolton) were dressed as expected. Pamplin costumed gracious Glinda (Linda Pledger Eedes) in gold flounces and tiara.
As for the wicked witch (Carey Wallace) her black outfit, broomstick and hideous cackling laugh ensured she looked and sounded like a real wicked witch.
Historically, Dorothy is in her early teens, but here she is dressed like a sophisticated woman. Although Human’s voice is charming, her interpretation, unfortunately, reflected that sophistication. Nothing simple country farm girl about her.
Wrapped in tin, Plummer’s stiff jerky moves reflected his “tinness”.
His excellent diction and projection gave him the edge over other principals.The Wizard of Oz’s star was Bolton’s loveable, scared lion.
He could have been overheating in his furry costume, but his mobile facial expression and heart-tugging delivery gave no sign of any discomfort. He delighted everyone, particularly the children in the audience.
For many years G&S have produced outstanding shows. While this cast had highs, the overall impression was that this show didn’t quite match G&S’s usual standard.
Director Roche Haupt-Buckle, whose noteworthy eye for detail won G&S’s 2016 The Mikado several awards, failed to give us those little details that lift shows from ordinary to brilliant.
However, there is much to enjoy in this family show. Everyone will love Toto too…
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