Dorothy and her dog Toto, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and all of the other fabulous characters from The Wizard of Oz have been brought back to the stage by the South Coast Choral & Arts Society to perform at its Coral Street, Victor Harbor home from May 9-24.
The opening is almost to the day of the 95th year since the passing of Lynman Frank Baum, who wrote this classic children’s book by the same name. It’s also the 75th year since the legendary Judy Garland played the role as Dorothy in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer screen blockbuster, and 45 years since her passing, aged 47.
The first stage play of The Wizard of Oz was in Chicago in 1902, and despite all of these years and milestones, it remains as one of the world’s all-time must-see screen and stage classics.
No one is more excited about the challenge than 17-year-old Kathryn Adams (pictured), an Investigator College student at Victor Harbor, who plays the leading role of Dorothy Gale.
In this wonderful ageless tale Dorothy dreams of what lay over the rainbow, and when a twister hits her family’s Kansas farm and carries her away over a rainbow to the magical world of Oz, a cast of weird and delightful characters join her and travel the universe of her imagination.
Our local play is being directed by Jacobus J Geelen – known as JJ – with Brenton Osborne as musical director and Sarah Pearce as choreographer, with incredible support from an equally talented cast and crew.
The South Coast Choral and Arts Society, an amateur theatre group that has delighted audiences since 1956, has produced some magnificent productions, and The Wizard of Oz will certainly rank high amongst them.
Joining young Kathryn as the stars of the show will be Daniel Jorgensen, Jon Grear and Mick McKinlay. They are certain to do Victor Harbor and the brilliant English actress Frances Ethel Gumm, better known as Judy Garland (1922-69), very proud.
Tickets $18 adults; $15 concession; children $10 available at Swan’s Pharmacy.