REVIEW

THE WIZARD OF OZ

WEYMOUTH PAVILION

Bobby Davro dazzles everyone as the star of this show, providing the comedy glue for a blockbuster of a pantomime which appeals to all generations.

Davro is the brainless Scarecrow and plays it for all the laughs he can get, especially when things don’t go as planned – forgotten lines, musical cues missed. But the mistakes just add to the sense of fun Davro and all the performers are having on stage.

It’s a pan-generational hoedown with plenty of rude noises to make the children giggle and the occasional subtle innuendo to provide the adult guffaws.

This is an updated version of the classic tale so instead of Over the Rainbow or Follow the Yellow Brick Road -- which might have disappointed the panto purists -- there is cheesy 70s disco with Car Wash (Oz Wash) and everybody’s favourite feel-good anthem Don’t Stop Believing as the show finale.

Dani Harmer, of Tracey Beaker fame, plays a passable Dorothy though could do with a bit more vocal coaching and her little fluffy dog Toto (Bella) was the cuteist mutt since Pudsey.

The other main players in the action included the superb Wicked Witch, who the children loved to boo and hiss, played with great physicality by Jenny Perry. Her Castle dance scene with a troupe of clowns in ghoulish masks provided the creepiest moment of the evening.

Star impressionist Andrew Fleming togged himself up as the Tin Man and David Phipps-Davis was the camp timorous lion who could nevertheless emit a mighty roar when he sang. He had a belter of a voice.

But Bobby is everyone’s darling tonight. He’s a bundle of energy who carries the show and does a great impersonation of Harry Hill manning a mobile disco and a hilarious Ozzy Osbourne as the wicked witch’s magic mirror.

The panto also includes many local performers in the set pieces. There were the four girls from Weymouth’s Let’s Dance who seamlessly supported the pro dancers and the hordes of little Munchkins drawn from primary schools across the area. Mums and Dads were justly proud of their offspring. A great family show.

GRAHAM JAMES