Richard John and Alice Lindsay, 13. Picture by Robin Crossley.
STAGE REVIEWTHERE are plenty of laughs to be had at Shorwell Drama Club’s The Wizard Of Oz, which has its final performance tonight (Friday).
While an appearance by Elvis and a rock ’n’ roll background is not quite what I expected to find in this classic children’s tale, anything can happen in Pantoland and the cast rose to the challenge with aplomb.
Alice Lindsay made a particularly likeable heroine, as Dorothy, while Richard John was the epitome of an over-the-top dame, as Aunt Em. I particularly liked the eating from the hamster cage scene.
Glinda and Letitia, the two good witches, were well played by Jackie Parsonage and Lynn Willis respectively and were an amusing duo.
Jean Renouf was suitably disagreeable as wicked witch Olga, while Sandy Evans was funny as the wacky doctor.
Jim Long was wonderfully musical as Elvis, proving the King isn’t dead — just living in the land of Oz.
Carol Hutchings was enchanting as the Scarecrow, who desperately wishes for a brain, while Helen Lindsay was brilliant as the cowardly Lion and Ian Dockray cut a strangely heroic figure as the Tinman — especially when he tried to rescue Dorothy from the poppy field.
Jackie Biggin was a great surprise as the Wizard, while Jason Harris did a good job as both the woodsman and the chamberlain and Larry Evans starred as the fearsome gatekeeper.
Directed by Simon Barber, the show features fantastic scenery, colourful costumes, a great choice of music and a lively cast, who clearly enjoy what they are doing, particularly the young Munchkins.
The opening night was perhaps not the most polished performance I have ever seen from Shorwell Drama Club but it was good family entertainment by a talented village drama club.