Summer Update 2025
Summer 2025 update from Lynn Holden, Chair of Wraysbury Players
What was I thinking back in February 2024? How could Wraysbury Players possibly put on a pantomime of such a scale as The Wizard of Oz? Well, all I had to do was have a Production Meeting with our talented Stage Manager, Daisy and Costume Lead, Lili, and they both said YES let’s do it! So, with creative thinking on a tight budget, we set about adapting and building sets and costumes. My absolute aim was for a COLOURFUL EXTRAVAGANZA which, according to our audiences, we achieved this brilliantly. I am so thankful to these two!
Casting in July was not that difficult, as current and returning Members fell neatly into their roles as well as our wonderful Youth Cast who joined us from October. Indeed, they performed the opening number with such gusto, setting the tone perfectly for what as to come. Although the original story by L Frank Baum didn’t allow for a pantomime dame, our version wouldn’t be without one so Auntie Em stepped up and crash landed into the Land of Oz with her niece. This was Steev’s returning role as our saucy dame, ably managing our hecklers and ad-libbing hilariously throughout our show
Other key characters were also brilliantly cast for their roles. Our dopey, but good-natured Scarecrow was played perfectly by Ronnie, so used to playing the hero in previous pantomimes, he threw himself into the role with his seemingly uncontrollable limbs and keen sense of timing. Next came the Tin Man, played by Nick, who was able to present a character forgotten and rusted over time, with a huge sense of vulnerability. However, he certainly needs to work on his poetry writing! The third character discovered on the journey along the Yellow Brick Road was, of course, the Cowardly Lion who’s larger than life presence was hidden by a frightened little pussy cat who’d lost his roar.
But it wouldn’t be the well-known story without an Emerald City, a loud and bumptious Gatekeeper and the Wizard of Oz himself! There was no contest when Edward came forward to audition as the Gatekeeper - his incredible presence on stage will undoutedly lead to main cast roles in the future. The Wizard needed to be eccentric, able to operate the huge ‘head’ on stage whilst booming into a microphone…then be exposed a a rather disingenuous fraud. Daniel was an obvious choice with his talent for these characters and did us proud with his interpretation and say no more about his previous love-interest down The Percy with Auntie Em!
As with all pantomimes, we had the balance of good over evil and this was beautifully portrayed by Sarosh as the elegant Good Witch Glinda and Jacqui as her slightly harassed sister, Good Witch Clarissa – again, a bit of poetic licence with the script. In contrast, we needed to find a Wicked Witch willing to wear bright green stage makeup and deliverthe most frightening of cackles both on and off stage. We looked no further than the adaptable Anastasia, who’s last role was as an undercover scottish cook! All three witches were wonderfully impressive!
The Wicked Witch of the West was ably supported by her menacing troop of Flying Monkeys, played by our Youth Cast and headed up by the Queen of the Flying Monkeys – a return to the stage by Claire Wood, who also double-upped as the rather more colourful Mayor of Munchkinland.
None of this musical mayhem would have been possible without the outstanding, improvising musical talents of Simon and Mike, aka The Band. Returning year after year to play, prompt and heckle is a joy for us all.
“Thank you to everyone who made Wizard of Oz happen and to those who came to support our annual pantomime, your lovely comments make it all worth while. See you all again soon!”
Dates for your diaries:
‘Allo ‘Allo 2: The Camembert Caper - 26th - 28th June 2025 (Book tickets here)
Wraysbury’s Got Talent - 27th September 2025
The Big VIllage Quiz - 15th October 2025