Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ, Crucible, Sheffield

The Wizard of Oz marks the first musical directed by Sheffield Theatres Artistic Director Robert Hastie. Coming off the back of several years' worth of highly acclaimed Christmas musicals, expectations for this one have been high, with the production already extending its run due to demand.

As Dorothy, Gabrielle Brooks brings a version of the character that is charming without being saccharine; never cynical and full of exuberance. She is supported by a fantastic cast, several of whom rarely leave the stage - especially those in the ensemble.

Of course, Dorothy's travelling companions are responsible for many of the best moments. Jonathan Broadbent as the Lion and Andrew Langtree as the Scarecrow command a great deal of the laughs, whilst Max Parker as the Tin Man delivers a beautiful performance - both in his heartbreaking songs and in his fantastic physicality.

Glinda is transformed from the slightly simpering version in the film to a glorious Amazonian Queen - with Sophia Nomvete giving a commanding performance that differs from her more nervous Aunt Em.

A special mention should go to Rhiannon Wallace, who operates the puppet version of Toto (designed by Rachael Canning) throughout the time in Oz (Toto is played by a real dog in Kansas, to emphasise the difference between the fantasy and reality), bringing a sense of life to the puppet - my friend said he found himself watching the puppet even more than the actors!

This adaptation of the beloved tale remains largely very faithful to the Judy Garland film. Purists will find little to complain about here. There are, however, some neat little touches to bring a contemporary edge to the show - if anything, the show could have taken a few more of these. However, the staging, lighting and costume design really elevate this production and give it a sense of uniqueness and character.

Designer Janet Byrd and lighting designer Richard Howell have, with Hastie, conjured up a version of Oz that is magical - expansive and otherworldly, even whilst being contained on the circular stage. Whilst there is obviously no transformation from black-and-white to colour, the combination of staging, costumes and lighting effects an equally wondrous transformation from Kansas to Oz.

Kansas is rendered in muted greyed-out colours, whilst Oz is filled with super-bright tones of every colour you can think of. The effect they pull off with the stage (which I won't spoil here) to achieve this transformation between places is impressive as well.

Coloured lighting embedded into the stage creates the Yellow Brick Road, the field of poppies, the Emerald City and the various other locations - making each scene feel very different even though there are little-to-no actual set changes once we are in Oz. The special effects are well realised - especially the way that the great Oz is performed - again, making clever use of puppetry and lighting.

The costume design updates all the characters with some pleasing unique flourishes whilst retaining the essence of the film. The costumes are especially well realised for the ensemble: from the Munchkins in their colour clashing glory, to the residents of Emerald City in all shades and styles of green, to the deep purples infused with neons of the Wicked Witch of the West's various minions. The only slight misfire are the Ruby Slippers - here turned into red and white brogues, which end up looking unfortunately like bowling shoes.

Of course, the songs are the main event of this show, and they do not disappoint. The live orchestra are situated in the sky above Oz, adding to the dreamlike quality of the story. The music arrangements are, again, faithful to the film, and are enthusiastically sung and danced by the cast, whose energies never let up.

The pace of the show is excellent and it's very accessible for children whilst equally entertaining for adults. The theatre have also been working with dementia groups on some show-related activities, and there are special dementia-friendly performances, along with signed and captioned shows, coming up during the run.

This is a loving and affectionate production. It's never less than charming and will leave audiences smiling - and singing the songs for days afterwards! Oz is a magical place you'll be glad you (re)visited.

The Wizard of Oz is at Sheffield Crucible until 20 January, 2018

Photo by Johan Persson

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