Review /// The Wizard of Oz

The ambitious Jesse Peach production of The Wizard of Oz at the Civic Theatre opened to an enthusiastic Auckland crowd that delighted in the vibrant retelling of this classic tale.

The star of the show, actress Olivia Tennet, played Dorothy to a tee and embodied just the right mix of youthful enthusiasm and stroppiness.

Her sidekick Toto the dog drew many an ‘oohh and aahh’ from the audience as he strutted across the stage and the odd moments when he stepped out of character to jump up for a treat or pull on the lead only endeared them to him more.

The dynamic threesome of Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow played their parts with compassion and delivered the punch lines of their jokes perfectly.

And the 90 kids casted for the roles of munchkins, poppies, monkeys, soldiers and Emerald City citizens were a joy to watch with their tight choreography and elaborate costumes enhancing the visual impact of the show.

Having a live orchestra present also helped bring the musical to life and the design of the Civic Theatre was used to good effect.

Sporadically appearing at the side balcony to keep the audience abreast of her evil plans was Helen Medlyn who played the wonderfully Wicked Witch of the West. And when Dorothy and her friends were being entrapped by ‘flying’ monkeys on stage, the audience was surrounded by menacing monkeys screeching through the aisles, giving a sense of the characters’ fear.

While some of the dance sequences in the second half slowed down the pace and seemed to drag a little, the overall professionalism of the production and polished acting more than made up for it.

Medlyn’s witch drew the loudest cheers at the end but the all age’s audience clapped and laughed along with the familiar characters through-out.

Whether you have been living in a cave and don’t know the story or it’s an old favourite of yours, this show is wonderfully uplifting and well worth seeing.