Bucks &amp; Oxon

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We&#8217;re off to see the wizard the wonderful <a href="https://www.oxford-theatre.com/theatres/new-theatre-oxford/the-wizard-of-oz.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wizard of Oz</a>, because, because, because, becausssssse… well, it&#8217;s on a UK tour and is appearing at the New Theatre Oxford this week and The Vivienne is slapping on the green grease paint as the Wicked Witch of the West! January blues be gone.







<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1.jpg" alt="Wizard of Oz the musical house lands on Wicked Witch of the East wearing ruby slippers" class="wp-image-154748" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Fresh from its hit run at the London Palladium, the Wizard of Oz musical features the iconic soundtrack from the Oscar-winning film including&nbsp;Over The Rainbow,&nbsp;Follow The Yellow Brick Road&nbsp;and&nbsp;We’re Off To See The Wizard&nbsp;with additional songs from&nbsp;Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It&#8217;s fair to say these two know a bit about a hit number.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1066" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384.jpg" alt="WIZARD OF OZ NEW THEATRE OXFORD cowardly lion " class="wp-image-154770" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384.jpg 1600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-UK-Tour-PROD-2384-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></figure>



The musical follows the well-trodden yellow brick road, as poor ol&#8217; Dorothy (Aviva Tulley) dreams of being anywhere but the Kansas farm she shares with her aunt and uncle and the cackling, dog-hating neighbour. When a tornado hits she&#8217;s is transported to the magical land of Oz with her dog Toto where she meets an eclectic bunch – Scarecrow (Benjamin Yates), Tinman (Martin McCarthy), Cowardly Lion (Nic Greenshields) – who are on a mission to meet the wonderful Wizard of Oz (Alex Bourne) so he can grant their wishes and return Dorothy home. Guided by the dazzling Glinda the Good Witch, they muster all their brains, heart and courage to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West (The Vivienne).&nbsp;Phew! 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1.jpg" alt="WIZARD OF OZ NEW THEATRE OXFORD" class="wp-image-154768" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/3-1-350x525.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>







If you thought the 1939 film was a celebration of technicolour, you ain&#8217;t seen nothing yet. Once we move out of the farm&#8217;s 50 shades of beige, the set designs and costumes get loud. The budget-busting set design uses film to add movement that simply wouldn&#8217;t be possible in the theatre. It doesn&#8217;t always hit the spot, but when it does, it&#8217;s spellbinding. The tornado in particular was a bit trippy (in a good way), alongside the creativity of the reimagined Yellow Brick Road that slides around the stage and the witches HQ.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2.jpg" alt="WIZARD OF OZ MUSICAL NEW THEATRE OXFORD glinda the good witch and dorothy" class="wp-image-154751" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/2-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



As for the cast, they knock it out of the park. All eyes were on The Vivienne, who rocks a frock, boasts a powerful voice and has some decent acting chops too. But for me, the night belongs to Aviva Tulley&#8217;s Dorothy. She has the most beautiful tone to her voice and her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow left me with goosebumps. Glinda gets a Barbie makeover with a bright pink Vespa, pink helmet and a voice is musical theatre joy. Tin Man&#8217;s rap left a to be desired, but throw in the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, and they are a loveable trio.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9.jpg" alt="Wizard of oz musical new oxford Theatre" class="wp-image-154758" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/9-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Big shout out to the ensemble cast who were on fire. They tore up the stage in a rainbow of retro-inspired costumes. The quality of the singing and dancing proves the success of a show doesn&#8217;t rely on big name celebs to click their ruby slippers (or ride in on their broomsticks). The Vivienne got the biggest cheer of the night, but the entire cast deserved a standing ovation. Take a bow, you brightened up a drab January evening.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1066" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262.jpg" alt="Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262" class="wp-image-154771" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262.jpg 1600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262-1000x666.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Wizard-of-Oz-TOUR-PROD-5262-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



Good for: Anyone in need of a dopamine hit – it&#8217;s fun and fabulous, musical lovers and anyone who appreciates a polished show.



Not for: Purists who cannot get their heads around a media mash up of stage and screen. If you&#8217;re sensitive to flashes and bangs, be warned there&#8217;s a lot of it in this show.



<a href="https://www.oxford-theatre.com/theatres/new-theatre-oxford/the-wizard-of-oz.php">The&nbsp;Wizard&nbsp;of&nbsp;Oz</a>&nbsp;is showing at New Theatre Oxford until Sun 14 Jan.<a href="https://www.oxford-theatre.com/theatres/new-theatre-oxford/the-wizard-of-oz.php">&nbsp;Tickets</a><a style="text-decoration: none" href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/pretty-woman-the-musical/new-theatre-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;</a>from £13.&nbsp;24-26 George St, Oxford OX1 2AG.

Review: The Wizard of Oz, New Theatre Oxford

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