The Wizard of Oz

King’s Hall, Ilkley

Seventy-five years have passed since the MGM fantasy film musical starring Judy Garland was released.

The story has lost none of its magical allure for both children and adults.

Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society first staged the Wizard of Oz in 1976 and then again in 1991.

This latest production directed and choreographed by Andrew Walton evokes the spectacular special effects of the MGM original with atmospheric lighting and by extensive use of film projected onto a large cinema screen at the back of the stage.

The prologue scene in which Dorothy’s grey Kansas farmhouse and the terrifying Miss Gulch are hurtled through the air by the tornado is from the MGM film.

Elsewhere, footage and images such as dark and mysterious forests, the Castle of the Wicked Witch and the Emerald City have been specially designed or computer generated and cleverly woven into the production.

Members of the cast too are costumed in the spirit of the film: Matt Gardner’s appealing Hank and Scarecrow, Mark Allan’s likeable Hickory and gleaming Tim Man, and Mervyn Button’s Zeke and loveable Cowardly Lion all look as though they have just stepped off the film set. The three of them have pleasing voices and beautifully project their songs.

Frankie Burgess as Dorothy conjures up the winsome appeal of Garland and the jazzy quality of her voice in her immortal song ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.

Jane Steadman is a tyrannical Miss Gulch who transforms into a wonderfully loud shrieking and cackling Wicked Witch.

Simon Field plays Uncle Henry and a delightfully camp Guard of Oz whilst Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz himself are portrayed with engaging eccentricity by Ian Wilson. Sally Merridew’s stern but kindly Aunt Em transforms into Glinda the dazzlingly white-costumed Good Fairy.

The scenery and costumes look authentic and there is a sturdy adults’ chorus and some brightly dressed Munchkins made up from the society’s juniors who at times, it must be said, struggled to be heard above the orchestra.

Optimum sound balance is always difficult to achieve in the King’s Hall but plans in hand for the re-opening of the orchestra pit – unused for decades – should help to improve matters.

The music for the Wizard Oz is tuneful, descriptive and dramatic. Musical Director Mike Gilroy and his band of 11 musicans deserve the highest praise for bringing the score to life in such vivid detail.

And there’s one more participant almost as crucially important as Dorothy herself – her faithful little dog Toto who is played on the King’s Hall stage by Millie.

The Wizard of Oz continues at the King’s Hall until Saturday.

Geoffrey Mogridge