Welcome to Ryedale Youth Theatre
Wizard of Oz – The Review
“The Wizard of Oz” – Ryedale Youth Theatre – Milton Rooms, Malton 27-30th March, 2024
There was a buzz of excitement in the auditorium tonight as the audience waited for curtain up on this much loved tale which has been enjoyed world-wide since the original film, which won an Oscar 84 years ago in 1940. I’m sure that the audience left feeling happy and uplifted, having enjoyed a spectacular and colourful journey to the ‘Merrie Old Land of Oz’. This story of love, persistence, bravery, faith and yes, ‘heart’ has been brought to life by this multi-talented youth theatre company. A post war classic give a modern 21st century feel without losing any of its authenticity and still sending out a very valid message.
I would like to credit all the principals for their fine performances, but have to mention particularly the main leads:
Dorothy, (Emily Umpleby) and her dog Toto (with puppeteer Jack Robinson) who, having had an altercation with Miss Gulch (Rosie Stott), took us on a journey from Kansas to the Merry Old Land of Oz – via the Yellow Brick Road; where we met The Good Witch of the North (India Collier-Hield), the Wicked Witch of the West (Stephanie Rastenis). The intrepid pair met new friends along the way: the Scarecrow (Ruby Jackson) who didn’t have a brain, the Tin Man (Torin Pope) who didn’t have a heart and the Cowardly Lion (Evie-Mae Dale) who had no courage. This little gang finally made it to Oz and despite the efforts of the Gatekeeper (Rosie Dale) they met The Wizard (Tom Gleave) but not before they’d had several more encounters with some magical people and objects.
It would be impossible to name every individual performer, every part however small was acted so well. The main principals: Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Main, Cowardly Lion and The Wizard deserve special praise for sustaining their accents and each giving a peerless character performance. Jack Robinson, Toto’s handler melted into the background as the dog took over the role – just as intended. This show was full of humour with some great one-liners and comic timing. The musical solos were all note and word perfect, as were ensemble numbers.
The dancers – and there were a lot of them, were choreographed beautifully and inventively by Rachel Morris who somehow managed to have rainbows and snowflakes, then trees and jitterbugs filling the stage. We had graceful ballet, terrific tap routines and split second timed modern dance. The dancer’s movements were enhanced by the colourful and inventive costumes in the charge of Jane Gledhill, who also oversaw all the other costumes – a truly mammoth task for this show – there must’ve been some extremely quick costume changes! Music and song was again in the very capable hands of Rachael Clarke with outstanding vocals from Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Glinda. The sound of the whole cast singing at the end of the show really did bring a tear to my eye. Once again Producer/Director Chloe Shipley has brought the entire company together to give us an outstanding evening’s entertainment.
Each year Ryedale Youth Theatre brings us something fresh and new, whether it’s an old show given a new treatment, like this one, or something modern. Who knows what they will do next year? I only know it will be exciting to find out and watch them once again.
Anne-Marie Gatford