off to so see the wizard

Sadly, it wasn’t. While Lloyd Webber’s host of new songs to accompany the few recognisable ones were good, it really wasn’t what the show was memorable for. The likes of Michael Crawford and Danielle Hope (winner of the BBC’s ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’) were both safe hands, if a little unspectacular. The spectacular was reserved for the amazing special effects, staging and costume design, which turned what might be an average musical into something quite dazzling.The tornado sequence stood out like a marvel of cinema rather than theatre: an impressive projection screen coupled with intricate stage mechanics made it really feel like we were being transported to Oz with Dorothy. And on arrival at the land of the Munchkins, the impressive staging continued with the Yellow Brick Road appearing on a tilted revolve from within which sprouted all manner of different scenes.The fast pace and creative production meant the time flew by, and we were back in Kansas before we knew it. A special mention must go to the Wicked Witch, belting out her numbers with extraordinary gusto, the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow for entertainment value, as well as the canine actor playing Toto: upstaging his human counterparts on several occasions.Overall, however, the spectacular visuals and set designs are what make the show worth a visit, definitely keeping you entertained long enough to not be wishing to go home…