SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
November 2024
The Wizard of Oz by Wild Rice (review)
Catching The Wizard by Oz by Wild Rice was top on our ‘to do’ list for the school holidays for my daughter and me. It was our first time attending a play at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre at Funan. We loved the cosy space and close-up seating, which made the experience an immersive one.
L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic gets a heartwarming and humorous local twist by the award-winning local playwright, Afian Sa’at. Directed by Ivan Heng, with catchy tunes by Elaine Chan, Wild Rice’s The Wizard of Oz is reimagined in the heartlands of Singapore, where strange happenings occur in ‘notorious’ Yishun, the ‘East side is the best side’, and the West is oppressed with industrialisation under tyrannic rule.
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The Wizard of Oz — Singapore-style!
The story opens with Dorothy, played by Rebecca Ashley Dass, a proud Yishun resident wearing a ‘pre-loved’ dress from Carousell. Struggling with a school project about her neighbourhood, she grapples with the town’s quirky reputation for making negative headlines in the local news.
Suddenly, a cyclone (a phenomenon which only happens in Yishun) sweeps Dorothy into the Land of Oz. Here, she accidentally kills the Wicked Witch of the East, liberating the Munchkins from tyranny.
Following the Yellow Brick Road in her quest to return home, Dorothy encounters a quartet of mystical characters. They form and unlikely bond and journey together to seek the wisdom of the Wizard of Oz. Along the way, valuable lessons about friendship and gratitude are learnt.
For over two hours and 45 minutes (with a 20-minute intermission), the show enthralled us with its captivating storytelling, creative set and lighting effects, and whimsical costumes. My daughter and I were still buzzing with excitement hours after it had ended.
An Exceptional Cast
Each of the cast dazzled us with their stage presence and exceptional talent. Rebecca Dass shines as Dorothy, captivating the audience with her beautiful singing voice and range. Veteran actress Karen Tan impresses with her versatility, seamlessly switching between roles as Aunt Em, Glinda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch’s assistant (bearing a striking resemblance to Edna from The Incredibles), and The Wizard of Oz himself!
The banter between the intellectual Tin Man (Benjamin Chow) and the Singlish-speaking Scarecrow (Timothy Wan) had us in stitches, with occasional cheeky innuendos that thankfully flew over the kids’ heads.
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Dwayne Lau’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch, Industraliza (Liz), was delightfully menacing with his evil cackling. (Aside: Industrializa, the Wicked Witch of the West, is sister to the witch whom Dorothy accidentally killed in the beginning.)
Stylishly cloaked and fitted with a black corset, he was unrecognisable sans makeup when playing Dorothy’s staid Uncle Henry.
Siti Khalijah Zainal as the scaredy-cat Lion, whose over-the-top fear of everything — peppered with Malay expressions and a quirky love for crochet — was hilarious and heartwarming.
Ali Mazrin brought Dorothy’s pet dog, Toto, to life with masterful puppetry, capturing subtle movements and realistic barks. The children’s ensemble, whose innocent faces lit up the stage as they sang and danced to catchy tunes in quirky outfits, was especially charming.
The Wizard of Oz — a must-watch!
If there’s one thing to do with the kids this holiday season, make it The Wizard of Oz. It’s a joyous, uniquely Singaporean experience that will uplift your spirits and leave you smiling. Don’t forget to grab a complimentary activity booklet for the kids after the show. You can also download it from the Wild Rice website.
Pro Tip #1: If you are watching an evening show, have an early dinner. Shops in the area will not be open after the performance.
Pro Tip #2: While children aged four and above are welcome, we recommend it for kids aged seven and up due to its nearly three-hour runtime.
The Wizard of Oz is playing at Wild Rice @ Funan until 21 December 2024. Get tickets at www.wildrice.com.sg
All images: Courtesy of Wild Rice, unless otherwise specified.
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