Review: The Wizard of Oz
We’re off to see the Wizard!! and there’s a totally magical experience in store for all.
The Wizard of Oz is the latest production to get The CTC treatment and is currently running at the fabulous Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds until Sunday 6th July.
I’ve long admired this talented company that are based in their own studios at Needham Market and my enthusiasm for them grows and grows everytime they take to the stage.
All the performers in The CTC are youngsters (children to young adults) but don’t let this deter you from a CTC production as you could easily be watching a professional company (in fact former members have gone on to professional careers).
The 1939 movie with Judy Garland is well-known and loved, and CTC Director Bridie Rowe, a self-confessed Oz fan, has kept very much to the style of the movie.
I hate singling out individual performances but Francesca Ratcliffe as Dorothy is amazing with superb vocal abilities. Supporting principal characters of Tinman (Harry Butcher), Lion (Connor David Elliott-Roome) are great too and well cast, but Noah Sparkes as the scarecrow was for me an absolute delight with his comedy timing and great singing and acting.
Something that is nice and a CTC stamp on this production is the featured ensemble which include a nice trio much in the style of the Andrews Sisters and other female vocal trios of the 1940s which added a nice little additional touch to what was already a great production.
Add to that some great dance numbers and you’ve got some of the movie magic of the 1940s.
Wizard of Oz is a great watch, a musical with a bit of pantomime about it and something that all ages will enjoy. On the night we saw it there was a young five year old boy on his first visit to the theatre, the evening performance finishing long past his usual bedtime who left the theatre, very tired but very happy.
The CTC have once again succeeded in giving us truly top-class entertainment…. they always do. If you see CTC on the posters I guarantee you are in for a treat.
Tickets still available for Saturday evening and Sunday matinee. Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds – https://theatreroyal.org
Review: Mark Keable, Ipswich24 Magazine
Pictures: Gavin King Photography