March 19, 1997
The Wizard Of Oz
Superb, brilliant, magnificent, and at times dazzling, describes the latest offering by Pirton Players in their presentation of the Wizard of Oz at Pirton Village Hall.
Captivated audiences were transported, following a violent ‘twister’ storm with frightening flashes and realistic sound effects, ‘Over the Rainbow’ and along the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. In the company of Dorothy we met up with a scarecrow who didn’t have a brain, a Tin Woodman who had no heart, and a Lion who was not very brave and needed some courage. In the Emerald City they saw the Wizard of Oz, a gigantic figure with huge bright eyes, but he could not help them until they had killed the Wicked Witch of the West.
Dorothy finally got rid of her by tipping her into a huge cauldron and throwing water over her, whereupon she vanished. Back in Emerald City they discovered that the Wizard of Oz was really a just a man but he gave the Tin Woodman a heart, the Scarecrow a brain and the Lion some courage. Finally, to give Dorothy her wish to go home to Kansas, instead of a balloon he produced a huge space rocket with twinkling lights, steam and smoke pouring from the engines. As with a hiuge road it climbed into the night sky.
With such a large cast, it is, maybe, invidious to single any one out, but special congratulations must go to the four principle characters who were all magnificent. Dorothy, played by Louise Kerswill, with her excellent Kansas accent, beautiful singing voice and lovely dancing, the tin woodman – played by Michael Tackley – only needed his joints oiled on a couple of occasions, Richard Sexton was really lovable Scarecrow and we all felt so sorry for that ‘scared of everything’ Lion, Anton Jungreuthmayer. The rest of the huge cast which included Farmhands, Munchkins, Soldiers, Jitterbugs, Witches, Generals and Ozians all brilliantly supported the main characters.
Music, lighting, sound effects, scenery, make-up and costumes were absolutely first class and Geoff Welch, Director, together with his army of helpers are to be congratulated on bringing us such a magnificent show. How lucky we are in Pirton to be able to enjoy so much talent. Thank you all. [Review by: Joe Titmuss]
Director - Geoff Welch
Cast
Aunt Em - Sue Kennedy
Dorothy Gale - Lou Robinson
Farmhand - Marie Tackley
Farmhand - Victoria Tackley
Farmhand - Valmai Guess
Farmhand - Dudley Gentle
Farmhand - Douglas Tackley
Farmhand - Keiron Jones
First General - Lorna Sexton
First Visiting Witch - Rosie Sommerville
General - Penny Picken
General - Paul Ribbans
General - Stewart Field
General - Fizz Gibbs
General - Judy McDonnell
General - Stephen Thorpe
General - Douglas Tackley
General - Helen Hofton
General - Dee Brown
General - Stephen Jaynes
George - Stephen Thorpe
Gloria - Victoria Tackley
Jitterbug / Ghost - Helen Manders
Jitterbug / Ghost - Katie Pearson
Jitterbug / Ghost - Helen Wallace
Jitterbug / Ghost - Rosie Tackley
Jitterbug / Ghost - Kathryn Wallace
Jitterbug / Ghost - Laura Woodward
Joe - Paul Kerswill
Lady of Oz - Sue Kennedy
Little Witch - April Baxter
Lord Growlie - Keiron Jones
Munchkin - Shvorne Turnton
Munchkin - Kathryn Burton
Munchkin - Sophie Davies
Munchkin - Lorna Sexton
Munchkin - Laura Lloyd-Smith
Munchkin - Jessica Lloyd-Smith
Munchkin - Caroline Manders
Munchkin - April Baxter
Munchkin - Helen Hofton
Munchkin - Katherine Bryant
Munchkin - Kaffe Jungreuthmayer
Munchkin - Simon Stimson
Munchkin - Lizzie Bryant
Munchkin - Polly Jaynes
Munchkin - Victoria Jaynes
Munchkin - Irina Sexton
Munchkin - Valentina Sexton
Munchkin - Kate Madden
Munchkin - Sarah Lake
Munchkin - Nina Lake
Munchkin - Celia Madden
Munchkin - Lizzie Butler
Munchkin Farmer - Stewart Field
Munchkin Mayor - Stephen Jaynes
Ozian - Valmai Guess
Ozian - Jan Simmons
Ozian - Marie Tackley
Ozian - Hilda Handscombe
Ozian - Stella Turner
Ozian - Liz Chapman
Ozmas - Paul Ribbans
Private - Paul Kerswill
Scarecrow - Richard Sexton
Second Visiting Witch - Valmai Guess
Sorceress - Maxine Shearer
The Cowardly Lion - Anton Jungreuthmayer
The Munchkin Barrister - Paul Ribbans
The Munchkin Coroner - Stephen Thorpe
Tibia - Peter Johnson
Tinman - Michael Tackley
Uncle Henry - Peter Johnson
Witch of the West - Ron Hart
Wizard of Oz - Roger Blackburn
Crew
Back Stage Crew - Dudley Gentle
Back Stage Crew - Barrie Simmons
Back Stage Crew - Brian Sommerville
Back Stage Crew - Graham Gibbs
Bass - Geoff Welch
Box Office - Susie Welch
Catering - Pam Finbow
Costumes - Stella Turner
Director - Geoff Welch
Front of House - Susie Welch
Lighting - Malcolm Lloyd-Smith
Lighting - Derek Webb
Lighting - Alastair Moon
Lighting - Chris Stimson
Make-up - Julia Thorpe
Make-up - Sue Gray
Make-up - Maureen Jones
Make-up - Marina Lake
Make-up - Loretta Hobbs
Make-up - Valerie Souster
Make-up - Jan Simmons
Make-up - Christine Keavney
Make-up - Helen Burden
Make-up - Fran Manning
Percussion - Andrew Sexton
Printing - Pam Finbow
Production Secretary - Marie Tackley
Prompt - Betty Turner
Props - Liz Chapman
Props - Liz Gentle
Publicity & Programmes - Pam Finbow
Set Construction - John Edwards
Set Construction - Geoff Welch
Set Construction - Stewart Field
Set Construction - Dudley Gentle
Set Construction - Graham Gibbs
Set Construction - Keiron Jones
Set Design - Laura Kennedy
Set Painter - Laura Kennedy
Set Painter - Sue Kennedy
Set Painter - Tim Welch
Set Painter - Barrie Simmons
Set Painter - Graham Gibbs
Set Painter - Julia Mills
Set Painter - Stephen Thorpe
Set Painter - Penny Picken
Sound Effects - Margaret Johnson
Sound Effects - Dave Wallace
Stage Manager - Penny Picken
