Playing to packed houses on both nights, the Wargrave Youth Theatre – in their first production in the Woodclyffe Hall for five years – surpassed themselves with two amazing “spoof” shows, based liberally on the originals from which the titles were derived. With Chez Annetts’ highly skilled direction and an experience crew offstage, the youngsters from the WYT Junior and Senior group had an absolute ball and kept the audiences entertained from start to finish!
A very proud Chez commented: “I would like to thank all the adult members who volunteered their time to come and help with set and backstage during the youth production. It made a huge difference to the planning and preparation as well as confidence boosting for the youth members to see themselves being supported by a talented and experienced team. Also thank you to all the members who came to watch and supported us!”.
The reviews…
“Wargrave Youth Theatre presented a double bill at the Woodclyffe Hall on the 17th and 18th November.
The Wizard of (T)oz!
This play by the Junior section is introduced to us by a very confident narrator, suitably assisted by an equally enthusiastic Stage Manager who appears from the wings. The narrator rambles on and gave us an excellently acted “2 minute” monologue. Very clever.
Poor Jojo on stage as her “mother” starts to take lots of flash photos from the audience. Her embarrassment showed which only drove her mother on. Didn’t she hear the No Flash Photography before the start? Great dialogue between them and had the audience in stitches as Mum approached the stage for some close ups. Super acting. Then Gran appeared with a large video camera just to really make the point. Well acted with great timing and so clever.
We met Dorothy along with Toto (bark bark), The Scarecrow (No, you can’t sing) and the Tin Man (this isn’t your scene). All very capable actors with excellent stage presence and confidence.
Then the fire alarm sounded! Well not really but of course became a great sketch inserted into the story by the Building Manager. Great comic timing and clever acting. Simple plot but extremely funny. Very reminiscent of early Monty Python!!
Who knew the Lion came from Shakespeare? Did the lion crash the scene or was it another very clever piece of acting?
Crash bang and a very convincing Witch appeared – wearing a fabulous fluorescent hat! Reminiscent of Where’s Wally? Three monkeys enter with her all having various skills! One (tried) to juggle, one flew (tried to) around the stage and the third gave a (great?) demonstration of his acrobatic skills.
So the Wizard of Toz was not there in person but a clever stand in, ably helped by the Stage Manager with a balloon, captured our attention.
The final scene, lead by Dorothy, summed up the qualities this play showed in abundance – great acting, great timing and very clever inspired comedy from a very young cast. Well done all.”
Peter Knowles
“The Sound of NO Music was performed by the Senior section of Wargrave Youth Theatre.
A new narrator introduced this play and again with great confidence explained why this version had NO music. Wargrave Theatre, it seems, doesn’t have the correct licence!
We start in the Convent where Maria and Reverend Mother are talking – Have you ever seen a Nun with crisps up her sleeve before?
Maria arrives at the home of the Von Trapp family carrying a large Cello case. Was this downtown Chicago? (Maybe I was reading too much into this). An interesting dialogue between the new Governess and the Butler with the excellent stage German accent.
The children are introduced one by one, don’t we all remember that scene! Now, with only one boy in the cast of 16, Friedrich and Kurt were played by one person, cleverly done by dropping to his knees in his superb lederhosen for the younger Kurt. Inspired.
How often do we see young people today standing side by side using their phones? Except these phones were telegrams, convincingly acted by Leisel and Rolfe. Sixteen, going on seventeen? No music still but cleverly dropped in by Sound!
So, the actors were not allowed to sing and the Von Trapp family were itching to do “Doe, a deer…..” so, why not turn it into a community song – which the audience belted out ably helped by very clever cue cards! Inspired (Panto folk – take note).
Some of the lines were priceless – “The most boring un-charismatic male lead in any musical” was how Captain Von Trapp was described (apologies Christopher Plummer). Cups glued to a tray and lots more visual slapstick comedy added to this clever take on a film and theatre classic.
Was Australia a mistake? Of course we all know it was Austria and very professionally carried off. A great dance routine by the whole cast would have Rodgers and Hammerstein turning in their graves! And then a short scene with two nuns – shades of Sister Act – but still so clearly Sound of Music.
It was like watching a series of very clever comic sketches – acted with great professionalism and timing – that cleverly satirised the original without ever offending. Anyone walking in at any point of the 40 minute performance would soon pick up that they were watching a very clever take on the original. That takes some doing, well done all.
Finally, as we all know the Von Trapp family escaped Austria over the Alps into Switzerland. Who came up with “I have walked 500 miles” by the Proclaimers as the theme to that sketch?
This was my first visit to a production by Wargrave Youth Theatre and I came with an open mind. Helen and I have seen a couple of very enjoyable productions at Theatre Royal in Windsor this year with serious household name actors. The younger members of Wargrave Theatre last night came very close, we had a wonderful evening and look forward to your next production.
Huge credit to Chez Annetts for putting this together. A massive amount of work, extremely skilled writing and direction. Bravo. Also, huge applause to the backstage, set painting and sound and lighting guys – very clever and really made the production come alive.
Peter Knowles
The Wizard of Toz performed by the Junior members of Wargrave Youth Theatre
A beautiful performance by such talented young people. Well done the Junior section of Wargrave Youth Theatre. Such great stage presence and utter mastery of timing.
Introduced by a lovely scatty narrator this was a really fun little play. I loved the over supportive Mum and Granny, super embarrassed Kids, impromptu appearances of the Tin Man! The Scarecrow, such a lovely voice but NO SINGING! says a very in control Dorothy. Poor Toto wants the lead BARK! But no just a dog! And who knew the Lion was a Shakespeare buff (he knew those lines already ha ha). Loved the hard-working stage director stepping in to cover for cast illness…and the Balloon of Toz…
Colourful Munchkins, a yellow brick road, oh the Tinman’s back! Wicked Witch what a baddie, lovely make up and frustration with her team of Monkeys; acrobat, flying monkey and juggler…he practiced twice!
The palace guards were strict, the building manager somewhat inept and over zealous with fire alarm testing…and Dorothy can take no more! She’s going home.
I had such fun! Well done all of you.”
Helen Knowles
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Photograph courtesy of Peter Knowles, pkkfoto.