THE WIZARD OF OZ South Coast Choral and Arts Society (SCCAS) Victor Harbor Town Hall Until 24 May 2014 Review by Kelly Mildenhall JJ Geelen’s realisation of “The Wizard of Oz”, the latest by South Coast Choral and Arts, is impressive fare. In less capable hands, a palaver could have ensued, due to the amount of wrangling required to coordinate design, orchestral and character elements; thankfully, Geelen’s production is polished and it well and truly hits the mark. It is clear that this show has fantastic production value. The fastidiously designed costumes are impressive, with Tin Man’s get-up being stand-out; Geelen’s circular ramped set depicting The Yellow Brick Road is innovative and versatile, due to the cut-out centre allowing for various sets and props, and the user-friendly nature of this open and clever space. The lighting is excellent, with the use of shadows, greens and reds enhancing key scenes with their glow; it is clear that much thought has been put into this element. It really doesn’t matter how much is spent on sets or costumes; the one thing people want to know before seeing a production of The Wizard of Oz is ‘Does she do “Over the Rainbow” justice?’ For this production, it’s a resounding yes. Kathryn Adams is sublime as Dorothy; her voice is bang-on and she brings strength and warmth to this role. Jenny Penny is absolutely magnetic as the Wicked Witch of the West; she is menacing and dominating without becoming a caricature, and the shadowy scene in her lair is particularly strong. Plus she nails memorable lines like ‘And your little dog, too!’ which, let’s face it, is important. Julie Kelly and Barry Germein as Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are appropriately lovable and strong, and both portray additional characters, highlighting their versatility as performers. Jon Grear is hugely likeable as Tin Man, and he maintains excellent physical characterisation, and thankfully avoids the trap of overdoing it with tedious robotic movement. Mick McKinlay’s entrance as the Cowardly Lion is fantastic, and his gruff-vocals are appropriate for this character. Daniel Jorgensen as Scarecrow is appropriately gangly and goofy, though his characterisation ebbs and flows at times; he is, however, to be commended on taking on this challenging character at such a young age, as this experience will serve him well. Leah Anderson as Glinda, The Good Witch of the North has a wonderful stage presence and she is at her best during dialogue-heavy scenes, during which she appropriately annunciates and conveys the required warmth. The strong ensemble bounces through this energetic show, with dynamic movement and powerhouse vocals, and it is fantastic to see so many youngsters involved as dancers, flying monkeys and munchkins. Molly, as Toto, is confident and calm, and there is a real ease about how she interacts with the cast – testament to the tight ensemble once again. At times, the pace lags, though this is largely due to a lengthy script, and the death of the Wicked Witch of the West could do with a smattering more tension to build up this key moment. Aside from this, there are also many cute moments, like the puppeteer crows featuring in a few scenes, the poppy field conveyed through dance and costume and the clever use of projection. Pleasingly, American accents are applied for scenes set in Kansas, and these are consistently maintained; it’s a shame that Tim Pearce, who is solid in the role of Professor Marvel, didn’t apply one early on in the piece to assimilate with other characters in this US-setting, but this is not a major grievance. The switch to Australian accents within the scenes in Oz is appropriate, and serves to highlight Dorothy’s outsider status. Musical Director Brenton Osborne and his orchestra effectively complement the onstage action, and at times, one forgets that they are playing because the music seamlessly integrates; this is a real credit to the musicians. It is clear that the quality of shows by South Coast Choral and Arts just keeps lifting because this show is an utter treat.