The Wizard of Oz is such a classic musical for any theatre company to put on that is stands to reason there will be a production of some sort current at almost any time of year. From June 1st Wales’ leading amateur theatre company, Orbit, celebrates its 41st year with the opening night of a week-long run of its own version of The Wizard of Oz at the New Theatre in Cardiff.
Dorothy is sung by Nicola Caldwell and the Wales Online reporter Dave Owens spoke to her about the role: Nicola Caldwell: I’m 22 years old, I come from Penarth and I’ve just qualified from university as a primary school teacher. Probably the biggest role I’ve done is Les Miserables in London’s West End for the 20th anniversary, which was fantastic. They chose 3,000 kids under 18 to apply, I was 17 at the time, and had done a school edition of the show. Out of the 3,000 who auditioned and sent tapes off, 35 got in. And I was one of the lucky ones! It’s every little girl’s dream, to play Dorothy, isn’t it, to wear the red ruby slippers and sing Over The Rainbow? It’s such an honour. It’s the archetypal dream role.

On the runner-up, Welsh girl Sophie Evans, and the winner, Danielle Hope? Nicola: Actually I liked the girl who finished third, Lauren Samuels. She was my favourite. She was really bubbly and very magnanimous and gracious when she went out. The Wizard of Oz is showing at the New Theatre in Cardiff from 1st 5th June Orbit Theatre

Wizard of Oz – Orbit Theatre Company

By L. FRANK BAUM With Music and Lyrics of the MGM motion picture score by HAROLD ARLEN and E.Y. HARBURG Background Music by HERBERT STOTHART Book Adaptation by JOHN KANE from the motion picture screenplay Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th June 2010 New Theatre Park Place Cardiff Book Online via The New Theatre, Cardiff

The weekend of the 8th/9th May 2010 will mark a turning point for Over The Rainbow as two Dorothy contenders will be set to leave the show. One contestant will leave on Saturday and one on Sunday, leaving us with a final four. I think Sophie will have to go this time but I’m not sure whether Jenny or Steph will be the unfortunate companion on the flying moon. If there’s a sing off between three girls voted least popular by the public, Andrew LLoyd Webber will only be able to save one of them in the end, and if I believe he would have to save Danielle, Lauren or Jessica. What do you think?

A fourth unfortunate Wizard of Oz casting show contestant has been evicted from the Over The Rainbow house, Emilie Fleming, the 19 year old from Boldon, South Tyneside Emilie was the “wild card” saved by the public once already, and faced Sophie in the sing off.

Emilie Fleming

I think Both Emilie and Sophie had already been identified by the panel as the weakest overall packages and the voting public agreed, but the decision to save Sophie came as a small surprise, with Emilie having shown good progress with her singing voice as pointed out by Charlotte Church yesterday. Emilie already has plenty of stage experience having made her West End debut at 14 – as part of the chorus for the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables.

I went to see Mamma Mia! the London stage show last night at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Piccadilly and enjoyed the show immensely. Jessie May as Sophie was captivating right from the opening scene and as soon as she opened her mouth the most beautiful sound came out, which then continued perfectly throughout the show. Having already seen the film version with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosman, Julie Walters et al, the rather fanciful plot held no surprises but the London stage version portrayed the younger characters much more sympathetically than the slightly annoying americanised teenagers in the film. The set is very appealing in a rustic Mediterranean sort of way but it’s not the colours and lights that transport you to a Greek island, it’s the acting and the costumes. Coming out of the theatre I was totally surprised to be dumped back into a somewhat chilly spring night on the dazzling streets of London Theatreland.

So I’d definitely recommend Mamma Mia for theatre breaks, and not just for single sex groups or Abba fans either. Anybody who remembers the 1970s or has dreamed of running away to a Greek Island, will have a great time at this so called “feel good show” that really lives live up to the promises. a