The Wiz

The Wiz

The Young Theatre at Beaconsfield:

Curzon Centre

This is a cheerful musical and the large cast in this lively company, which has been going in Beaconsfield for 33 years, had the benefit of being produced by experienced local thespians including Mark Oldknow (of Tight Fit Theatre) and Helen Sharman […] the four principal characters were wired for sound: Dorothy (Rosie Williams), Scarecrow (Peter Sharman), Tinman (Clem Silvermann) and Lion (Chris Henry) plus The Wiz (Ben Crowden) and the Witches (Olivia Priest, Jess Templeton and Jess Pengilly) [… and …] overall the amplification worked well.

Youngsters are influenced by television so Clem Silvermann, Olivia Priest and the fiery Jess Templeton could put across their numbers with pop-star conviction. Peter Sharman as an unsupported Scarecrow had to go through the evening with unsteady legs and floppy arms. Raunchy Poppies, wearing minis, suspenders and laced bustiers to entice Lion, showed that sexy behaviour knows no generation gap. There were no dropouts onstage - each member of the cast acted with enthusiasm all the time which gave the production depth and animation […]

The Wiz is an adventure with a moral - Dorothy is looking for a home, Scarecrow for a brain and Tinman wants a heart. Lion, although roaring bravely at times, needs nerve. We first saw the Wiz as a glowing-eyed mask suspended from above while a voice-over barked out instructions. When Ben Crowden appeared, the Wiz himself, he was a small boy in nightclothes, but none the less forceful. He saw that each of the four main characters got their wish, and his message to us all is that we must free ourselves from our hang-ups and just believe in yourself.

Frances Chidell : Bucks Advertiser : 8 May 2003