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Entertaining live music, admirable dramatic skills combined with excellent sets and colourful costumes transported many children and their accompanying parents into a magical world of wizards and witches over the weekend.
Taking advantage of their mid-term break many families followed the yellow brick road to the British Club in Adliya to watch a talented cast of youngsters and more experienced actors in a theatrical version of the Hollywood musical The Wizard of Oz presented by Music and Stage for Kids (MASK).
The chorus of children of different nationalities and various ages, the youngest of whom was just eight, provided a fantastic display of flexibility, agility, singing and acting prowess.
Scarlet Robinson, in the lead role of Dorothy, charmed everyone with her confidence and singing ability. Children loved the bumbling lion, played by Guy Parker, and were splitting their sides with laughter as he fell all over the stage, pulled his tail, lost his roar and showed no confidence in doing the simplest of lion-type things.
The lovable scarecrow Luther Rauk and timid Tinman Rory Adamson, complete with his upturned funnel hat, were engaging and wearing excellent costumes.
But, the one performer who had everyone holding their breath and wondering what was to come next was the Wicked Witch, played by Lydia Auld.
Her husky voice suited the role and her green make-up, black robe and witch's hat made her character come alive on stage. Her entrance was always perfect with blinking lights and spine-chilling music and even more memorable was her final disappearing act.
George Lindsay, who played Uncle Henry and Guard to the Land of Oz also put in a sterling performance.
This well directed musical was complete with a soothing fairy, resplendent in her shimmering costume and wand, the little munchkins, plotting witches, scary jitterbugs and frightening jungles and, of course, a miraculous escape and a happy ending.
The evening was thoroughly enjoyable and a huge hit particularly with the youngest members of the audience who were taken on magical journey with an excellent score conducted by Alistair Auld. The scenes moved with ease from set to set and the amateur and the experienced changed costumes and said their lines effortlessly. I also liked the Great Oz's message in the end which inspires people to believe in themselves.
The attempt at creating a digital imagery of the typhoon, however, could be improved upon as it lacked the desired impact and is one element MASK could look at improving in future productions.
All praise to the group for putting on another classical musical and offering talented youngsters a stage outside a school environment to perform on and a show for all Bahrain to enjoy.
After watching the Wizard of Oz and the earlier production of Oliver I am sure many on the island are eagerly awaiting the next show ... hopefully in a more acoustic space with better parking facilities.
- Review by Anasuya Kesavan
