Panto Review - THE WIZARD OF OZ - PEOPLE'S THEATRE, NEWCASTLE

 

Written by Tom Whalley, we are taken to the land of Oz in true panto style, with our Fairy/Dame, Dorothy, Toto and all your other favourite characters. We do not start in Kansas, but Heaton. Which, it seems, also has a tornado problem that leads Dorothy on her adventure down the Yellow Brick Road.

Director Pamela Willis used every opportunity to bring a song for each character that joined the quest, making an all-singing, all-dancing, extravaganza. The end musical number was particularly tight and well performed by the whole cast. Musical Director James Hedges, along with Bass player Richard Rutherford and Drummer Lewis West, created the perfect score for the whole show. Choreographer Julie Bowman and Babe Choreography’s Jill and Julie Taylor (JETS) created magical and charming dances the spurred the story onwards. The set looked incredible, with a swirling Yellow Brick Road and iridescent bubbles to bring the magic of Oz to life. Everyone involved should be very proud of the innovative way the great and powerful Wizard was presented. Costumes and Wigs by Sarah Pearson, Georgina Purvis and Wiggy were exceptional and really helped bring out the different character personalities.

The show was fun and packed with well-loved songs. Although some characters did struggle a little with the more challenging songs they had been given, all the cast are loveable and fun in their different roles.

The whole audience was charmed by the Student Dancers, Junior Team and ‘Babes’ Team as they glided through different scenes. The Adult Chorus brought out much fun as various side characters, such as talking trees and even a very believable David Attenborough. Alison Carr as Tin Man and Jess Chapman as Scarecrow made a humorous pairing throughout. Rosa Cole was simply hilarious as the very expressive puppeteer and voice of Toto. Erin Hattrick was pitch-perfect as the enthusiastic Dorothy.  Steve Parry was wonderfully warm as the Wizard. Rachel Potts seemed rather underused as the funny, sweet and perfectly-costumed Winkie the Monkey. Joe Moore sang the audience into his power and kept us there for the whole show as the Cowardly Lion. Hattie Eason was exceptionally wicked, and yet a musical dream, as The Wicked Witch of the West. Ian Willis is not someone I would usually imagine as Glinda The Good, but is certainly fantastically fun as the slightly bawdy, and very fabulous, Dame.

A delightful journey ‘over the rainbow’ for all the family. If you click your heels together three times you can see The Wizard of Oz at The People’s Theatre until 21^st December 2025.