Last week, Shiplake College’s Junior School production of The Wizard of Oz wowed audiences at six sold-out performances at their own Tithe Barn Theatre!
The production, directed by drama teachers Mrs Jenny Nunes and Mrs Sian Pearson, was a complete success that tickled families, friends and prospective pupils alike. Henry Kunzig’s embodiment of Damien (Dorothy’s male alter ego) was stunning. Not only was his depiction fantastic, but he truly committed to his role and embraced what most boys his age would never dream of doing in public: singing! However, it was not just singing, his rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow gave audience members Goosebumps! His companion, Toto (played by Luke Roxburgh-Smith), was also fantastic. Despite not having a single line (as you would expect from a dog), Luke’s characterisation was truly captivating. At times, it was difficult to follow the story because of how perfectly distracting he was!
The production follows the story we all know and love, with Damien and Toto dreaming of adventure and escape from the mundanity of rural life in Kansas. Early on, we meet Aunt Em, played by Mo Gaza, Uncle Henry played by Jack Murray, Billy Bryan’s Hunk and Lucas Batty’s Hickory. While they are tending to farm work, the evil Mrs Gulch, hilariously played by Adam Hunt, interrupts them. She demands that she takes Toto away, leaving the Gale family furious and Damien without his sidekick. That is until Toto escapes and returns to Damien so they can run away together to escape Mrs Gulch.
They soon meet the Professor, brilliantly played by Sam Waller who feigns intelligence by using long words and asking a series of leading questions. He warns the pair of an impending storm from which they will need cover. They are too late however; they get indoors but Damien is hit on the head and wakes up in a strange land. At this point, we meet Drag Superstar George Belcher, who played Glinda the Good Witch almost too well, and the whole of Year 7 playing the Munchkins! They did a fantastic job and despite wearing tutus, they were clearly enjoying themselves, which was great to see! After the fantastic Munchkin parade, we meet the Wicked Witch of the West, terrifyingly portrayed by Barnaby Wells. From the stripy leggings to the green face, he took on the character fantastically and even frightened some younger members of the audience.
With his red ruby sneakers on foot, Damien and Toto set off on their journey to the Emerald City and soon meet the scarecrow. Kai O’Hare did fantastically well to remain in character with a great West Country accent, which he even maintained while singing! They set off again and soon meet the Tin Woodman, played by Toby Coles who also maintained his character brilliantly. The four of them soon set off to see the wizard!
Once they’ve met Alex Taylor-McDowall’s Cowardly Lion, they all continue to follow the yellow brick road. Why? Just because, because, because, because, because! Before long, they find themselves in the poppy fields, where Damien, Toto and the Cowardly Lion all fall under the poppies’ spell and fall into a deep sleep. Glinda the Good Witch soon awakes them with a magic spell and they continue on their journey.
The gang soon arrives at the Emerald City, where they eventually gain an audience with the Wizard, despite being told ‘not no one, not no how!’. After the Wizard orders them to bring the Wizard the Wicked Witch’s broomstick, the famous five leave the Emerald City in pursuit of the Wicked Witch.
As they pass through the Haunted Forest, the Wicked Witch of the West sends his evil flying monkeys, played by all of the Year 8 Pupils, who come and kidnap Damien and Toto. All the while, Toto escapes and leads the Lion, Tin man and Scarecrow ambush the castle by stealing some guards’ uniforms to rescue Damien. Once they have freed him, The Wicked Witch captures them and sets fire to the Scarecrow. When Damien throws water at him to put him out, he splashes the Wicked Witch who slowly dies when it touches him.
They all celebrate and take the Witch’s broomstick back to the Wizard of Oz who still will not help them. Toto then opens the curtain to reveal that the wizard is just an old man, played by Olly Rouse-Roberts. He agrees to reward their efforts by giving the scarecrow a diploma, the Tinman a watch and the Lion a medal for valour! Damien, who just wants to go home, is offered ride on Milo the Pony (in lieu of a hot air balloon) to get him home, but the Wizard cannot tame such a wild stallion, and leaves without him. The Good Witch soon appears and tells Damien that he had the power to return home all along, simply by tapping the heels of his Ruby Red Sneakers and saying ‘there’s no place like home’. One particularly memorable moment came as Alex Taylor-McDowall recited the classic line: ‘Now I know I have a heart, because it’s breaking’. Damien and Toto soon return home, where they learn the lesson of enjoying what you have, because you don’t know what dangers may lie outside of what you know.
The whole production was truly fabulous. The musical accompaniment, arranged by Musical Director Mrs Louise Rapple Moore, was amazing and gave so much more depth to the performances. The amazing murals by Nicola Sutherland also helped to create an awesome environment, in which the whole Lower School and Year 9 and 10 pupils could perform this uniquely entertaining play. A huge well done to Stage Manager and Costume Designer Mrs Vanessa Hine, who put together such fabulous outfits, for almost 100 cast members!
Massive congratulations must go to the whole cast for their wonderful portrayals of brilliant characters; the production was a huge success and was enjoyed by nearly 500 audience members! Thank you to all who attended, we truly hope you enjoyed the production and please, watch this space for our upcoming summer productions!