The Wizard of Oz in London

The Wizard of Oz in London. Photo courtesy of LindaH via Flickr.

The London Palladium has opened its doors to the new, and definitely soon to be, hit London musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’.  After the success of the UK BBC TV show ‘Over the Rainbow’, where the world famous, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, ran auditions to find his Dorothy, people have been flocking far and wide to see the winner, Danielle Hope, perform.

The Wizard of Oz offers a magical night of singing, fantastic stage production and incredible acting for all ages. During the show you will find yourself being swept away to the magical land of Oz, where the Munchkin people welcome you, the Wicked Witch scares you, and Dorothy and her friends embark on a courageous journey to see the Great Wizard and obtain their heart’s desires.

Every character is brought to life on stage, from the charming yet dopey Scarecrow, the lonely Tin Man, the cowardly Lion and the “Great and all Powerful Wizard of Oz” played by Michael Crawford.

For me, what really made the show wasn’t the stage magic, nor was it the vocal talents for Dorothy, but it was Toto…the adorable West Highland Terrier, who occasionally indulged in eating the scenery grass and making up his own cues.  All of these memorable moments added to the overall family friendly night of laughter, tears and dreams.

Whether you read the book by L.Frank Baum or watched the original Victor Fleming film, you too will definitely fall in love with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s enchanting adaptation of the all time classic, The Wizard of Oz.  The show is currently scheduled through early 2013.

- Maria Chatterton-White

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