Lynn Belvedere

THE WIZARD OF OZ @ THE CAPITOL THEATRE

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s London Palladium Production of THE WIZARD OF OZ is a breathtaking musical revelation, that significantly improves upon the screenplay of the 1939 the all-time classic technicolor MGM musical movie. Keeping to the original storyline by cleverly adding three new enchanting and unforgettable songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and also contains the well-beloved songs of the Oscar®-winning movie score by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg.                      

Very well adapted for the stage, many contemporary comic one-liners have been incorporated into the fast-paced script, to update and personalise the experience for a 2017 audience.

The production features a very strong lead cast with an effective ensemble, featuring over forty singer/dancers on stage. The simply beautiful costumes greatly improve upon the very limited palate of colours suitable for use in the technicolor original movie. The truly beautiful ruby-red shoes are there. The sets are visually stunning  and  feature appropriate colour schemes. The sepia twister sequence was wonderfully effective, plus the Emerald City set and the Wizard’s set are better than in the original. There are some deletions/alterations/tightening, plus new theme music for the twister sequence.

The show stars our WICKED’s leading ladies Lucy Durack (Glinda the Good) and Jemma Rix (Wicked Witch of the West) and Anthony Warlow (The Wizard) and the audience enjoyed the magnificent voice talent of the young and charming Samantha Dodemaide as Dorothy.

Dorothy’s dog Toto easily stole each and every scene, with the audience reacting  strongly whenever Toto did something different.

There were perfect vocal and instrumental performances throughout, and the two famous songs “Over the Rainbow” and “We’re Off To See The Wizard” were well received by the audience.

The Capital Theatre is an exquisite building, the architecture plus the décor inside is stunning. This iconic theatre is the perfect venue for this classic musical, and as there are no bad seats the entire audience can savour it.

Of course, this production is very different to any previous Wizard of Oz version, that Australian audiences have seen in recent years, and unfortunately this London Palladium Production does not contain the songs “If I Were King of the Forest” and “The Jitterbug.”

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, originated in London in 2011 and collected the Laurence Olivier Award for the Best Musical Revival in 2012.

This Australian production recently premiered in Brisbane.  This production is perfect entertainment for children and adults alike.

Song List –

1. Overture
 2. Nobody Understands Me
 3. Over The Rainbow
 4. Wonders Of The World
 5. The Twister
 6. Arrival In Munchkinland
 7. Munchkinland / Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead
 8. Follow The Yellow Brick Road
 9. If I Only Had A Brain / We're Off To See The Wizard
 10. If I Only Had A Heart / We're Off To See The Wizard
 11. The Merry Old Land Of Oz
 12. Bring Me The Broomstick
 interval
 13. Haunted Forest
 14. Red Shoes Blues
 15. Bacchanalia
 16. Red Shoes Blues (Reprise)
 17. Over The Rainbow (Reprise)
 18. If We Only Had A Plan
 19. The Rescue
 20. Hail-Hail! The Witch Is Dead
 21. The Wizard's Departure
 22. Already Home
 23. Finale

Highly recommended, THE WIZARD OF OZ is playing until 4th February 2018 at the Capitol Theatre.
Duration: Approximately 145 minutes (including the twenty minute interval).
Photographs © Jeff Busby

For more information visit:
http://www.capitoltheatre.com.au/the-wizard-of-oz/ 
https://www.facebook.com/CapitolTheatreSydney
http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/the-wizard-of-oz-capitol-theatre-sydney-haymarket-nsw/venueartist/155850/887597 - - -

 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -