Everyone knows the story of The Wizard Of Oz – it’s an absolute
classic, and for good reason! It’s a story many of us grew up with, and if
you’re anything like me, it’s marvellous musical sister ‘Wicked’ only fanned
the flames, so when I heard that Dorothy’s house was landing right on our
doorstep I couldn’t say no. A long way from the small screens of the 1930s,
Lloyd-Webber’s adaptation tornadoes the Emerald City into the 21st century, whilst still keeping the old country charm that makes the film version
feel oh so cosy.
For those who don’t know the story (how?) The Wizard Of Oz
is a tale of longing, belonging, and finding yourself. It follows Dorothy and
her dog Toto as she’s whisked away by a tornado after dreaming of a place over
the rainbow where she could finally belong – right into the magical land of Oz.
After accidentally starting a feud with the Wicked Witch of the West she sets
off to find her way home, picking up a few new loveable buddies along the way.
Down the short not-so-yellow brick road to the Alhambra, it
really is easy enough to think you’re not in Bradford anymore. Set designer
Colin Richmond has done an absolutely fantastic job of creating the magical
world of Oz with some absolutely stunning set pieces – the Wizard’s grand mask
really is something to behold, basking over the whole stage and really creating
that illusion of grandeur we’re all so familiar with. The use of technology in
the show is just marvellous; despite being somewhat reminiscent of bowling alley
graphics, the use of an overlay screen and detailed projections to create a
more filled-out set and to keep the show concise without missing a single
detail was something that worked really well (and the spinning tornado cow
definitely warranted more than a few giggles.) I also really enjoyed the fun
little pop culture references sprinkled throughout – the Tin Man’s Esso petrol
stand, the Coca Cola machines and the Broadway shoutouts in the Emerald City on
the video backdrop were a quirky way of bringing the show up to date and made
for fun little Easter eggs to spot throughout. The costume design was stunning
too; fun, colourful designs with enough rhinestones and sequins to sink a
battleship, and the most fabulous hats I’ve ever seen (I’m looking at you,
ensemble member with the giant green teddy bear head). The combination of
staging and costume and the sheer energy of the cast made the stage look
constantly bustling and busy in the best way – even with an ensemble of just
11, the stage never looked quiet and it was so fun to see.
As somebody who struggles with sensory overload I did find a
few moments within the light and sound design a little jump inducing. Although
the bright flashing lights and pyrotechnics certainly looked spectacular, they
were more frequent than I’d first anticipated, and so do be warned if you’re of
a more nervous disposition – I’d never been jump scared by a witch’s broom
before, but here we are.
In short, the production was nothing short of phenomenal.
Other than my slight issue with the sound and lighting (which is
absolutely just a matter of personal preference) I had to really wrack my brain for the negatives, and I still came up
blank. The cast themselves were magnificent; Aviva Tulley was feisty and
headstrong as Dorothy, and her performance of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ gave
me goosebumps. Her band of buddies were just as great – The Scarecrow (Benjamin
Yates) Tin Man (Femi Akinfolarin) and Cowardly Lion (Nic Greenshields) were all
so fun to watch, with lovely voices and great comedic timing that made the
whole thing flow beautifully. And of course, The Vivienne was an absolute
powerhouse as the Wicked Witch – the pantomime portrayal was well received, and
her snarky demeanour fit the bill perfectly.
It's not often I leave a show and immediately start texting people to
buy tickets, but it’s not one I wanted people to miss out on! I went in
expecting a run-of-the-mill theatrical version of the story I’d seen a thousand
times before – but it’s so fun, energetic and just that touch over-the-top that
it completely subverted expectations in the best way. It’s definitely family
friendly, with lots of singing and silliness, so take everybody along for the
ride. I’m not too sure about Kansas, but right now there’s no place like the
Alhambra!
Reviewer - Hazel Goodlad
on - 20.3.24
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