Review: Peak Youth’s energetic take on The Wizard of Oz

Take four dozen young performers, bubbling over with energy and enthusiasm. Add a classic musical show, with colourful costumes, familiar songs and lots of dance numbers.
The Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate TheatreThe Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre
The Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre

Put it all on the stage, and bring in an audience, and you have a foolproof recipe for a fun night out.

Peak Youth’s Wizard of Oz, at the Pomegranate for three nights this week, has a large chorus of small people playing exuberant Munchkins, forest creatures, ghosts, multi-coloured swans and an army of generals.

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Down the yellow brick road, there is witchy magic from Jess Hall (good) and Melissa Shaw (wicked), while Khai Jackson (Tin Man), Sam Hall (Lion) and Josh Holmes (Scarecrow) put heart, courage and brains into their journey to the Emerald City to find the Great Oz (Isaac Marsh).

The Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate TheatreThe Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre
The Wizard of Oz at Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre

Darcey Thorpe is an engaging, gingham-clad Dorothy, with a melodious voice many older sopranos might envy.

It isn’t quite as I remember it. I miss Toto the dog, and irascible Miss Gulch, and Dorothy goes home by sound-effect rocket, not heel-clicking. But it is none the worse for such innovations.

LYNNE PATRICK

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