Where did Hop pop?
Waterloo East Theatre, London
Was it top for Hop?
***
Immersion Theatre’s raucous, hilarious take on James Michael Shoberg’s
update of The Wizard of Oz traps our bipolar
heroine Dottie (tortured by the otherworldly barks of her dog Toto), in the Ozlin
Mental Health Facility. Subject to
illicit experimentation, betrayal, sexual harassment and administrative
frustration, she confronts enemies and makes lifelong friends in her quest to
find her way home. There’s flashing lights, pounding rock music and much
screaming and fighting in this stuffed-to-bursting production, which is in
parts hilarious, heartfelt, and totally unnerving.
Waterloo East Theatre delivers yet again as a beautiful,
welcoming space to nurture upcoming talent. The venue is lively, friendly and
the damp scent and distant rumble of overhead trains reinforce the unearthly
delights of Dorothy In Oz. With the
versatile space transformed to a simple ‘black box’ theatre, the venue creates
a beautifully sparse canvas for the colourful world of Oz to come alive in.
Kirsty Bruce positively sizzles in the title role. Sharp,
gutsy and spiky, Dottie smashes her way through Oz, befriending a heroin-addled,
goth-rocking ‘Skarekrow’ searching for willpower, an axe-wielding Rusty the tinman
with anger issues and a sex-addicted lion who just can’t seem to get his
‘Courage’ back up. It’s filled with sexual innuendo, clever puns, naughty words
and even naughtier thoughts, but there’s something about the nonchalant swagger
and unashamed punch of Immersion Theatre’s adaption which makes it utterly
delightful.
Some moments are eyewatering, and it’s sure to ruffle a few
feathers, but overall it’s a tongue-in-cheek rollercoaster of laugh out loud
moments and poignant evaluations of trust and friendship. Rob Tofield’s Mr
Lyons in particular exerts the perfect blend of utterly repulsive and
completely endearing, while ditzy hippy therapist Mrs Goode (played by Rochelle
Parry) and hard-as-nails secretary Miss Gates (Lisa Lynn) ham up their brazen
stereotypes mercilessly, infectiously exacerbating the lunacy of Oz through
clever puns and silly idiom.
Despite this, the production is not without its flaws.
Firstly, the screams and over-zealous nature of the med-addled lab monkeys
distracts and usurps the calm, collected authority of Linda Taimre’s Wicked
Witch – infuriating in some parts, almost sloppily childish in others. However Swish,
Twitch and Grunt’s passion is admirable – it’s just a shame their story gets
lost in the howls and grunts of over-egged fight scenes, which border on the
ridiculous. Sound itself seems to be an issue for this promising company -
Dottie’s words are lost in sequences with the Wizard Dr Oz, whose booming
recording cracks over the speakers, while good jokes and clever rhymes are
missed under the cacophony of sounds which dominate the production. Some of the
writing appears unimaginative and out of place, and there’s a tendency for the
production to overspill, almost haphazardly as actors explore their characters.
For its minor faults, it’s a production whose energy is
utterly infectious, laugh-out-loud humourous and has no scruples in its blasé
depiction of an alternative Oz. The refreshing step away from social challenge
and the emphasis on fun is entirely welcome, and well located. Immersion Theatre
has created a highly physical innovative take on a classic story which manages
to be both edgy and absurd, and of course, an utterly enjoyable ride into
fantasy.
This production runs until 17 March 2013.
For more information: http://waterlooeast.co.uk/dorothy%20in%20ozi.html
@WaterlooEast
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