Not only one of the best loved musicals of all time, but a classic film as well: The Wizard of Oz is a fantastic mix of music and storytelling, of fantasy and reality. It’s outlandish conceits and hugely imaginative background encase a very down to earth story that we can all relate to: the yearning for a place to call home. Perhaps it is this reason that has made it so hugely popular in all it’s various incarnations
The Wizard of Oz began life as a book, written by the great novelist Frank L. Baum. Intended for children, it was destined to transcend it’s genre and become a modern classic, being read and loved by people of all ages. However, it’s long lived fame was assured in 1939, nearly have a century after it’s original creation, when it was adapted into a musical film featuring songs by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. One of the best loved movies of the 20th century, it continues to seem as fresh and exciting today as it did when it was made nearly seventy years ago.
Many attempts have been made to adapt this classic production to this stage, with acclaimed theatre companies trying the hard task of recreating the magic of the film in a live setting. The Royal Shakespeare company have tried their hand at it, as have the St Louis Municipal Opera. The most recent attempt comes from Britain’s very own masters of the musical art, the much loved duo that is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
For fans of the musical genre, the promise of a partnership between these two men being resumed after a good long time apart is perhaps even more exciting that a new production of The Wizard of Oz. Famous for their many collaborations that have included such classics as ‘Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat’ and ‘Evita’, this pair pushed the boundaries of what the musical was capable of and have attracted legions of new fans to the genre with their many hit shows.
So the new songs that these two have written join the well loved classics of the original film, and the result is a musical that you really cannot refuse. To add to the excitement comes the prospect of seeing Danielle Hope making her debut in the role of Dorothy, after winning the competition of ‘Over the Rainbow’.
Venue Information
London Palladium
Argyll Street
London
W1V 1AD View Map
Directions
Take the Victoria, Jubilee or Central line to Oxford Circus station and exit onto Argyll street. The theatre is a 2 minute walk.
