The Wizard of Oz was yet another phenomenal musical by Hampton and Waldegrave lower school pupils, bringing together comedy, acting, dancing and flawless singing to form a truly unforgettable show.
Like many girls her age, Dorothy Gale dreams of a life away from Kansas and of what lies over the rainbow. After a twister hits her farm and carries her over the rainbow to Munchkinland, she meets the Sorceress of the North and embarks on her journey to the Emerald City to ask the great Wizard of Oz to help her get back home. With the Wicked Witch of the West attempting to stop her at all possible moments, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion along the way. The story follows their adventure along the yellow brick road, in hope of receiving their greatest desires from the Wizard of Oz.
Running for three nights, the show, directed by Mrs James, exuded energy and was filled with fun, whilst still keeping true to the childhood classic we all know and love. The flawless American accents in Kansas really transported you into the story, a skill that many must have worked extremely hard to develop. Dorothy along with her trusty crew of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, played by Johnny Evans-Hutchinson, Conor McNeany and Theo Gibson, transported the Hammond Theatre on their adventure along the yellow brick road, supported expertly by the rest of the 50 strong cast. Furthermore, the superb costumes and set design added to the show’s dazzling thrill and colour, creating an entirely new magical world before our eyes.
Mrs Esser and Mr Fox brought the iconic songs to life, with classics such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Follow the Yellow Brick Road expertly performed by the cast, accompanied by a superb band. The talented principals and chorus really came together to perform such well-known musical numbers, after 12 weeks of hard work perfecting each and every note. As well as the familiar favourites, there were also some unexpected surprises, such as music from The Nutcracker executed flawlessly by the incredible band.
The innovative choreography, put together by Mrs Halford, was performed perfectly by the cast, helping to make the magic of the show come to life. All of the many components came together to form a truly fantastic musical, showcasing the wealth of dramatic and musical talent from across both Hampton and Waldegrave.
Toby Gwynne
