February
6, 2013 – The Wizard of Oz
– Having seen the film many, many times, the West End stage
production of Wizard of Oz, with an enthusiastic Canadian cast, can
only be somewhat disappointing in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice
version. After having seen the brilliant Wicked, many times. The use
of the orginal score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg always tend to
stir one's emotions, but the additional or new score by Webber/Rice
leaves much to the imagination, other than the funny “Red Shoes
Blues,” belted out by Lisa Horner as the Wicked Witch of the West.
The sets, costumes and effects are a delight, and there are great
performances, especially by Danielle Wade, who is a perfect Dorothy,
and the great talents of Mike Jackson, Lee MacDougall, and Jamie
McKnight, who bring the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow
to life, and the three Totos which added to the audience's amusement.
