The Wiz is a re-telling of the well-loved children’s fairy tale, The Wizard of Oz through the music and language of black America and, it has to be said, the youngsters of SONG performed it brilliantly.
The dancing, choreographed by Jenny Birch, was step-perfect and the musical backing, with its fusions of gospel, R & B and swing, rocked along under the direction of Sarah Nicholson.
During Brand New Day, it might have been Aretha Franklin’s band with a gospel choir while Ease On Down The Road (once a yellow brick thoroughfare) had the audience clapping along.
Layla Carlin sang delightfully as Dorothy; Charlie McMullan, looking suddenly grown up, was a splendid Scarecrow; Jamie Lonsdale was head and shoulders a Tin Man and Lucas Frost’s leonine qualities stood out beneath his furry headdress.
Helena McCormack might have come out of the pages of Hello! as the pouty witch, Adderperle; and Shannon Weekes screeched convincingly as the bad witch, Evillene.
One of the highspots of the show was when she was tipped into the yawning depths of an armchair. Isabella Knowler was enchanting as good witch, Glinda.
And The Wiz himself, who turned out to be a “good ol’ onery guy” was played with style by Matthew Higginson.
The Wiz was never a s entertaining a musical as The Wizard Of Oz and there was a distinct lack of colour and variety in the set, which was just a wooden double staircase connected by a platform with a door beneath, but for sheer exuberance and vitality shown by a talented cast, this was a fun show for which director, Sian Wooley, deserves every credit.
Star Rating: 7 out of 10, a talented cast.
The Champion – Wednesday 15th April 2015
Review by Ron Ellis