Pantomime-style musical with lots of laughs and life-affirming message

WHAT catches your eye on entering the playing fields is the vibrant set design (Justin Williams) for Immersion Theatre’s The Wizard of Oz.

Centre stage is the legendary Yellow Brick Road, leading to the Emerald City.

An upbeat mood is established immediately as the show opens with a burst of jazzy music and dance.

The story will be familiar: Dorothy (Rachel Warrick-Clarke) is blown to the Land of Oz and is searching for her dog Toto.

She picks up kindly friends along the way: the Scarecrow without a brain (James Tobias), the Tin Man without a heart (Conor Headley) and the Lion lacking in courage (Joshua Scott). She also meets the Wicked Witch of the West (a determinedly nasty Nicole Lockwood-West). This is Munchkin country, so we are also introduced to a pair of adorable munchkins.

The cast are multi-tasking and it’s a sign of their professionalism that they can undertake costume changes without dropping the pace of this madcap show. The colourful costumes are by Rochelle Parry.

On reaching the Emerald City, the friends seek an audience with the Wizard — a scary moment since he is represented by a disembodied but deeply sonorous voice.

Their requests are met with a condition: to kill the wicked witch.

What follows is a series of fast-paced comic showdowns between the witch and the band of friends. Add in some jokes (this adaptation is written and directed by Tobias), toe-tapping music, lively dance and audience interaction and you have a family-friendly, pantomime-style musical.

Amid the smiles and laughter, there is an affirming message that being yourself is good enough.

The Wizard of Oz is a jolly and inclusive show for an audience of all ages.

Susan Creed