The Wiz
by Chris
Holmes
55
Aluredian
(and voice) onstage, but insecure and totally
lacking in self-confidence. Gradually on their
adventures, all three find their own redemption,
and realise that the qualities they have so
desired have been there, nascent, all along.
The Wiz himself is something of a phoney,
having found himself in the role purely by
chance, but the casting of Freddie Barker was
no accident. He huffed and puffed to great
effect, but was also tremendously touching as
he came clean to his loyal subjects.
Pyrotechnics and special effects were
spectacularly handled by Peter Belfield.
The massive chorus all had their moments, the
Munchkins, the Emerald Citizens, the Winkies
and perhaps especially the Monkeys all had
complex dance sequences which they performed
effortlessly, the result of carefully-conceived and
wonderfully effective choreography by 6th
formers Sophia Warby and Fleur Netley.
The music for this 1970s remake is a black
American funk-based score, with all its
ferocious syncopations and complexities. Once
again the incredibly professional band put
together by musical director Colin Albery and
assistant Karen Fergusson scarcely flinched,
and produced sounds both bewitching at times
and hugely exciting at others. Sound and
lighting were of the same high standard we
have become so accustomed to, but the
costumes in the hands of Maggie Vile, Pam
Edney and Olivia Feilden were this year a tour
de force. Many, many thanks to director Anne
Sheehan for producing such an entertaining
evening of theatre at King's.
A
fter the intense and powerful
production last year of Jesus
Christ Superstar, we
journeyed to the opposite
end of the cultural spectrum
this year, as we entered the
fantastical world of The Land of Oz. The Wiz is
a modern-day adaptation of The Wonderful
Wizard Of Oz, in which Dorothy is blown by a
tornado into munchkinland, where she meets
the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly
Lion. They set off down the Road of Yellow
Bricks to see the Wizard of Oz, and the
audience joins them in the many adventures
they have along the way, which prove an
important learning experience for all.
Dorothy was perfectly brought to life by
Hannah Cartwright, innocent yet fun-loving,
naïve but idealistic. Her singing was a
highlight of the evening, as was the scenestealing
Charis Elphinstone as Addaperle, with
more than a hint of Patsy and Absolutely
Fabulous. The companions Dorothy meets on
her journey all have a defining flaw.
Scarecrow, played by Sam Merriweather, longs
to improve himself intellectually, and Sam
captured his insecurities but also his charm
with great subtlety and sensitivity. Tinman, as
well as being in need of a good oiling, is
lacking only in heart, and Jordan Webb made
us believe totally. In some beautifully
characterised songs, he showed actually that
there is a heart there, all the more touching as
he had failed to see this himself.
The lion with no courage was beautifully
portrayed by Edward Wynn, a huge presence