The Wizard Of Oz - performed December 1982

By L. Frank Baum

Performed with the kind permission of Josef Weinberger Ltd

Director - Dennis Murfitt
Musical Director - Patience Ling

Cast

(in order of appearance)

Dorothy Heather Steel

Tinman Bill Chapman

Scarecrow Kevin Brown

Lion Adrian Bolton

Sorceress or the North Brenda Chapman

Witch of the West Viv Wheatley

Gloria Janet Green

Lord Growlie / Uncle Henry Dennis Murfitt

Aunt Em / Visiting Witch Janet Cousins

Lady of Oz / Visiting Witch Val Taylor

Tibia Frances Brown

Private David Turrell

First General David Warner

Second General Neil Herbert

Wizard of Oz Bert Yeates

Munchkin Mayor Trevor De'Ath

Munchkin Farmer Philip Bruce

Munchkin Barrister Duncan Steel

Munchkin Coroner Alec Machattie

Dancers and Chorus Linda Warner
Alison Brett
Gillian Riley
Liz West
Joan Yeates
Gill Baxter
Marion Boyce
Judy Hussey
April Whymark
Bethanie Ling
Jonathan Taylor

Munchkins Deana Hargreaves
Zelda Hargreaves
Elizabeth Cleveland
Sara Wilshaw
Julia Wilshaw
Tracey Ball
Emma Smith
Jason Ball
David Bowers
Karen Rudd
Tammy Webb

Production Team

Peter Westbrook, Jenny Rollings, Nigel & Amanda Rowe, Bruce Emeny, Maurice Barber, Derek Cobbold, Kevin Brown, Tanya Rudd, Val Taylor, Frances Brown, Ian Tucker, Geoffrey Taylor, Jack Hacon, June Wendon, Miranda Humphreys, Wendy Colbournes, Sheila Horton, Pamela Talbot-Ashby, Patience Ling, Viv Wheatley, and other volunteers not mentioned.

The Musical

A refreshing, magical look at the classic Frank Baum story as Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Strawman, to say nothing of Toto, take on witches and a wizard to obtain their most treasured dreams. Songs include "Little Girl From Kansas", "So Far So Good", "Revenge" and "Wicked Witch Stew".

Reviews

Wizard enchants gala audience

“A WHIZZ of a wiz – the wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Manningtree’s amateur theatre group is performing its first fairy tale this week, and it should have the audience enchanted.

Of the Manifest Theatre cast, 16-year older Heather Steel, who played Dorothy, really steals the heart. With Dorothy leading the scarecrow, tinman and lion through munchkin land and along the yellow brick road it’s entertainment all the way.
A performance on Sunday was a special gala night to raise money for the Acorn Village Centre, Mistley, a home for the mentally handicapped. At the end of the show the chairman of the theatre group, Geoffrey Austin, presented the founder of Acorn Village, Denzil Green, with a cheque for £400. This money will go towards a minibus for the centre, following a recent accident when their minibus was written off.
The week-long show at Manningtree’s former British Legion hall should be a great success. The show is a complete sell out: more than 400 people will watch the 40-odd cast perform the Wizard of Oz.
If they enjoy it as much as I did they’ll be back for more.
Sue Wallis