Dorothy, Back in Oz
Photo by Neil Baxter
Review by Martine Silkstone
There is a lot to like about Dorothy, Back in Oz - from the wonderful professional cast and the young company supporting them, to the stunning costumes and fun choreography. I did, however, have a few issues as I will come to in a bit…
This second instalment of the well-known story follows the success of last year’s production, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and sees a troubled Dorothy swept back to Oz by a storm which floods her hometown of Stow-Meerkat. Desperately searching the rising waters for a mounted deer’s head belonging to her mum’s boyfriend, she washes up in the magical land only to find it devastated under the rule of the evil Gnome King and his Munchkin minions.
Meeting up with friends old and new, she journeys to the ruins of the Emerald City to put things right and, along the way, finds the answers she needs to find peace at home.
That all sounds perfectly clear, doesn’t it?
But throw in an eggbound singing chicken (yes, really), a princess channelling Worzel Gummidge with her changeable heads, a philosophical talking deer, and a national song contest that is a catalyst for disaster, and things start to get a bit more…well…messy!
Photo by Neil Baxter
Now, first things first…
Anya de Villiers is great as our hero, Dorothy. Sweet and spirited, she makes the role her own and her singing voice is simply beautiful - I wish we could have heard more of it.
Michael Lambourne is spot on as her mum’s meek boyfriend, Bradley, and then (in classic Oz style) commands the stage as our villain, the Gnome King, complete with gruff voice and sweeping cloak.
Meanwhile, Leonie Spilsbury manages to be everyone’s image of a mum before transforming into the wonderfully wicked princess, and Safia Bartley is every bit the perfect chicken side-kick, complete with her backing singers, The Supremes (see what they did there?).
Special mention also for Nathaniel Purnell who, as Tik Tok (aka The Tin Man), appears to be 50% Deadpool and 50% Borg from Star Trek – more importantly, the boy got moves.
This lovely cast holds everything together with their skill…and they need to.
So, to the issues…
I didn’t see the first instalment last year, and perhaps it would have flowed better if I had. However, for me, it just doesn’t quite hang together as a story, being both too simple and yet, somehow, too convoluted at the same time. Basically, it’s all over the place.
There are some lovely elements - I liked the way it dealt with death and grief, and the unexpected use of eggs as a weapon – but overall, I just found it slightly surreal and underwhelming. An unusual feeling when dealing with the Theatre Royal!
Of course, I am not the target audience, and I should add that the many children watching were quiet and seemingly engaged throughout so what do I know? As a spectacle I wouldn’t put you off – it is worth it for the flying sofa scene alone (and that tells you all you need to know).
Photo by Neil Baxter
Dorothy, Back in Oz is at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds until 23 August.
FOR FULL SHOW DETAILS AND BOOKING LINK, CLICK HERE