I have fond memories of various versions of The Wizard Of Oz. Aged 10, I was taken to see the RSC’s version, featuring Brian Blessed as the lion and Toto played by a real dog. Before even that – and betraying my age slightly here – we had an old BBC computer with various educational 8-bit games, one a variation on Oz. Oh, and we can’t forget the movie Return To Oz, which my older sister found quite sinister.
Now, landing (like a house) in Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre, it’s Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage version of L. Frank Baum’s classic fantasy. The first thing I want to address regarding this production is its one major negative: the video wall, which takes up a lot of the scenery work, is a bit Microsoft Windows and frankly not good, although still not on the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory level of disappointment.
With that out of the way, let us focus on the good stuff. One of the poster stars of this Wizard Of Oz stage iteration is Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood: seemingly channelling Bette Davis as The Wicked Witch Of The West, with a bit of Frank N Furter thrown in (or – given I’d love to see him in that role – is that me projecting?), yet not actually used enough. Aviva Tulley immediately captivates as Dorothy; her Over The Rainbow is nothing like Judy Garland’s, which I mean positively.
Benjamin Yates and Nic Greenshields, as the Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, are both equally funny and camp (Greenshields is gifted the line “I’m proud to be a friend of Dorothy”); indeed, this show in general accentuates the already pretty camp Oz lore. Oh, and Abigail Matthews gets an honourable mention as the puppeteer behind the adorable Toto.
The alternative 1950s setting for Oz, like Munchkinland through an Archie Andrews prism, is a strange decision, but one which makes for gorgeous costumes and props including Glinda and her pink scooter. The iconic flying monkeys are still creepy. And even the aforementioned video wall allows for a few nifty Easter egg ad jokes: references to Ray Bolger and Margaret Hamilton, respectively the Scarecrow and Wicked Witch from the 1939 film, and Forbidden Planet playing at the ‘Ozeon’ cinema. The Wizard Of Oz is a sufficiently fun, colourful stage show for kids in the audience to be enjoying it alongside adults in Cardiff.
The Wizard Of Oz, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Wed 24 July
On until Sun 28 July. Tickets: £17-£82. Info: here
words CHRIS WILLIAMS
