The Wizard of Oz - enjoyable but long
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from February 2000.
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And each Thursday to Saturday until 4 March showgoers have a chance to taste some of the magic that millions all over the world have enjoyed since the classic Judy Garland film first flickered across a screen more than 60 years ago.
With what is said to be the largest cast ever assembled at the Prospect Playhouse, the show bursts on to and fills the Red Bay theatre stage in a kaleidoscope of kids, costumes and colours. Seasoned Cayman Drama Society director Colin Wilson has had to be a bit of a wizard himself to handle the show's logistics, which include more than 70 costumes, 22 songs and eight scenes.
And the mass of on stage personnel - men, women, boys and girls - are backed by an equally impressive sized and hard working group behind the scenes.
Strong performances from the show's central characters, a wealth of instantly recognisable songs, some colourful sets, a stage often enlivened by an array of cute kids, and the encouragement of audience participation make for a night that offers something for all ages.
And almost all ages and sizes turn up in the cast, including a couple of mature and overgrown Munchkin members among the ranks of the tiny. Jacquelyne Gregorwich as Dorothy, handles the demands of following in the famous red shoed footsteps of Judy Garland, well.
And she gets good support from her fellow travellers on the Yellow Brick Road - Ann O'Connell (the scarecrow), Tony Rowlands (the tinman) and Martin Tedd (the lion).
But in this large-scale production it is perhaps unfair to try and say, for instance, which witch is the best or to single out too many performers for special mention. All those who have to handle the double challenge of singing and acting do a sound job.
And each of the supporting cast, no matter how big or small, does his or her bit to keep the show bright and lively through song, dance and action. Even one of the "malicious monkeys" managed to get laughs with a particularly cheeky first night performance on Thursday as his costume seemed to be slipping a bit lower down at the back than it should have been.
The show, as director Colin Wilson points out, has not been adapted from the film and stays true to the 100-year-old, original L. Frank Baum children's story.
Some may feel however that this particular Cayman Drama Society production is just a little on the long side, particularly as it tries to hold the attention of fidgety children.
