TREAD THE Boards Youth Music Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz opened on Tuesday in the Gardyne Theatre, writes a theatre critic.
It could be predicted from the moment that the sweet little Lhasa Apso pitter-pattered onstage that this show would be an out-and-out winner. It was not a question of the warmth and volume of the AW!, which greeted Toto (Cody), but the proof of the sheer self-confidence of the production team that they would risk having the performers compete with a fetching pet.
The hazards facing Dorothy in her efforts to escape from Oz to get back home to Kansas are as nothing compared with the dangers facing a company with the temerity to compete with images and echoes of Judy Garland toddling and chortling along the yellow brick road.
They succeed because they set these memories aside. Every scene is meticulously imagined and nowhere is there any trace of a patronising attitude, or of any tolerance towards the second-rate
The show opens in a farmstead in the Mid-west, but switches gracefully to a land of flowers, and later still opens out into a splendid Emerald City.
The Cowardly Lion, played by Stephen Millar, remains the winsome creature who delights children, but he has here the fey appeal of an alternative comedian. As the Scarecrow and the Tinman, the frolics and playfulness of Stephen Mitchell and Brendan McKeown are captivating.
Jennifer Bisset as Dorothy has a wide-eyed innocence and brings to her voice and movement a candour which is perfectly pitched. Everything comes together to provide a seasonal jewel of a production.
Head over the rainbow to
beat the winter blues
The Evening Telegraph
Take a trip beyond the rainbow to beat those winter blues, writes Colin Petrie.
Tread the Boards Youth Music Theatre presents that old Hollywood favourite The Wizard of Oz until Saturday at Dundee 's Gardyne Theatre.
One great tune after another, plus laugh out loud moments of comedy are the perfect antidote to dark, cold and windy days.
The show begins, though, with its own storm, as Dorothy Gale's wistful wish in Somewhere Over The Rainbow is somehow granted and she is propelled by a twister up and away from her Kansas farm to the land of Oz.
On arrival, Dorothy accidentally kills the Wicked Witch of the East and from there on in it's one adventure after another as the Kansas kid and her dog Toto seek the eponymous wizard, who has the power to get them home.
Along the way, Dorothy collects three hapless companions — Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion — who help her battle the Wicked Witch of the West (out for revenge after what happened to her eastern sister), in the hope the wizard will grant their own wishes.
Scarecrow wants a brain, Tinman a heart and c-c-c-Cowardly Lion some courage.
Jennifer Bisset, as Dorothy, sparkled as brightly as the ruby slippers she wears, while Scarecrow (Stephen Mitchell) was a giant amongst haystacks. Anyone with half a brain could recognise the talent he brought to his role.
Tinman (Brendan McKeown) was certainly on his mettle and Cowardly Lion (Stephen Millar) had the audience roaring with laughter.
Tricia Stewart was a suitably cackling Wicked Witch, while Kirsty Brown underwent a transformation from dowdy Aunt Em to a shining Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Greg Davidson leant more than able support as Uncle Henry.
So, after ridding Oz of a second wicked witch, Dorothy and friends got what they wanted from the Wizard (Scott McRuvie with another assured performance).
From Munchkins to Jitterbugs, talking trees to Emerald City citizens, the whole cast performed with skill and enthusiasm. And not forgetting Cody, who played the faithful Toto. A real trooper, who kept concentrating even after having a paw accidentally nipped by a misplaced foot early in the show.
Thanks to an impressively-staged storm twister the audience was transported to the wonderful Land of Oz along with her per dog Toto (alias Cody) who never put a foot (sorry, paw!) wrong during his lengthy stage appearance!
The script faithfully followed the film version and, in a top-notch cast of principals, Jennifer Bisset was a captivating Dorothy, making friends with the sensational Scarecrow (Stephen Mitchell), the terrific Tinman (Brendan McKeown) and the up-roar-iously funny Lion (Stephen Millar). What a talented quartet!
Travelling to Emerald City they met many strange characters such as the three singing/dancing Crows, Talking Trees, Deadly Poppies and Flying Monkeys.
Tricia Stewart did her best to thwart proceedings as the vengeful Wicked Witch of the West, but was stopped by the glamorous Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Kirsty Brown).
Great performances also came from Scott McRuvie, as the Wizard, and Greg Davidson’s Emerald City Guard. And let’s not forget the wonderful bunch of Munchkins!
