The Wiz
Ruislip Operatic Society
Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip, April 9-12.
Director: Alan Bailey
ROS, Wiz, OK! The first of Ruislip Operatic Society’s two shows of the year spelled out a fast-paced and expertly delivered vehicle for newcomers and the younger element of the ROS cohort.
Charlie Smalls’s take on the yellow brick roadtrip that is best known through the classic Judy Garland film version, The Wizard of Oz, has held its own place in theatregoers’ hearts (and a less successful celluloid outing of its own, co-starring the late Michael Jackson), since its Broadway debut in 1974.
It is a funked up, rocking take on the tale originally for an African-American cast.
But good tunes are good tunes, and ROS lined up its talent to deliver them.
Aditi Sawjani as Kansas castaway Dorothy was perkily perfect, more than ably abetted by Scarecrow Daniel Matalon, Tin Man Matthew Ralph and James Yank as a comical Cowardly Lion.
A strong core, then, for a trip to the Emerald City. Plot? That’s it; this is all about the voice.
Enter husband and wife Mark and Helen Sheppard-Bools [CORR], as The Wiz and wicked witch Evilene, two performers of great talent who will, it is fervently to be hoped, sign up for future ROS shows (see below).
Esther Watkins was terrific as dotty good witch Addaperle and Chanice Alexander-Burnett nailed a cameo as good witch Glenda with a voice of pure gold.
The principals were more than capably supported by the usual ROS host of teenies and old hands taking a back seat this time round.
Gripes? Not many. I would have liked a more dynamic start, but re-writes are banned under performing rights rules, so you work with what you have.
The sets were adequate if not spectacular, so a show with panto feel and professional quality performances sometimes looked a little under presented, but budgets, and time freely given, always make that a ‘best effort’, and ROS set dersigners are nothing if not ingenious – but potential sponsors, please take note.
The Wiz fizzed and ROS has talent, much of it young, in spadefuls, which can only bode well as it eases on down the road ..
Alan Hayes
The next full ROS show is A Grand Night For Singing, an evening of Rogers and Hammerstein numbers directed by the aforementioned Mark Sheppard-Bools, from October 1-4.
The popular ROS Stage Works summer school for children aged eight-18 is from July 26-August 2, and this year the show is Beauty and the Beast Jr.
There are a few places left, so go to http://www.rosswsummerschool.org for details of how to join in.
