As if the original wasn't camp enough, William F Brown decided to update 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' to the platform-shoed, huge-haired, wackily psychedelic '70s. This reworking of the black musical has some cracking soul numbers and makes it perfectly clear that Dorothy's taken LSD and is tripping her pigtails off to the tune of talking scarecrows, lions and tap-dancing men made out of tin. In the morning we can be fairly sure she'll wake up back in Kansas with something of a headache.

The soundtrack remains fantastic, and Ovation theatre company get stuck into it from the off. Just as well, since the dialogue has been trimmed to within an inch of its life. John Plews directs with some nice touches: the yellow brick road is a chorus that Dorothy and chums follow around the set; and the Wiz is an out-of-work actor, appalled at the quality of his props.

There are also some fine performances: Emma Lindars is wonderful as the wicked dominatrix of the west who, weirdly, Dorothy can still destroy with water; Jonathan Eiø has a soaring voice as the Tin Man; and Louisa Copperwaite picks up all of her supporting roles with verve.

Overall there's more pizzazz and energy than polish or emotion finesse.
Lucy Powell
THEATREWORLD INTERNET MAGAZINE
The Wiz Book by William F Brown

Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls

Playing at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until 29 January 2006

This award-winning 1970s remake of the Wizard of Oz ran for 3 years on Broadway when it first came out and it's not hard to see why, with its infectious mix of feel-good songs and its upbeat mood. The original score synthesises the best of 70s-style music, i.e. more Diana Ross than Donny Osmond, in a Blues Brothersy score - and the film version starred Diana herself along with Michael Jackson. The famous tune here is Ease on down the road, which most people will instantly recognise.

This turbo-charged production at Upstairs at the Gatehouse features an impossibly young and beautiful cast, in costumes that are just fabulous. The Lion sports a wild Afro, leopard-skin shirt and paisley/orange smoking jacket; the Scarecrow is resplendent in patchwork flares matched with waistcoat studded with right-on badges and the Wiz himself boasts a green topper plus silver platform boots and those Lycra shorts.

But a special mention must go to the Munchkins who whizz around on wheely chairs cloaked in their conical shells by the Arts Educational Schools and pop their hands and heads out for their ironic Munchkin dances rather like the Mock Turtle. I can't quite describe why this is so funny but it just is.

The creators of this musical were brave enough to mess with an American icon and set it right in the middle of flower power, psychedelia and soul music, with the plot and characters remaining essentially the same. Peopled with actors representing a poppy field and the good old Yellow Brick Road, this is Oz on some kind of hallucinogen.

Dorothy is played by Sarah Boulton with a freshness and immediacy, which coupled with her strong voice makes her a winner. Evillene, the wicked witch of the West, has found her soul mate in the actor Emma Lindars who invests the role with a great personality and rich jazz voice. What is this thing the Brits have with the pathetic underdogs? Sometimes you just want the mean old overdogs and wicked witches to win for a change. Despite his angelic photo in the programme, Stuart Hickey is an outrageous and cheeky Wiz out for the main chance but who charms all in sight.

This exuberant young cast and the entire Ovation production team have created a show that is unashamedly happy, rampantly energetic and a must-see this Christmas.

Julia Hickman