Review: THE WITCHES OF OZ, The Vaults London
Its 20 years since Dorothy left Oz, and the Yellow Brick Road is closed for road works. But luckily there is a great candidate for the role of Wizard in Chief. She’s very familiar to those who have visited Oz before - some may know her as The Good Witch but to her devoted followers, she’s Kelly Oz(bourne)!
The Witches of Oz is a brand-new immersive experience combining comedy, cabaret and dining, designed and directed by ShayShay, one of the most well-respected creatives on the East London drag and queer scene. The Vaults has been transformed into a psychedelic homage to L. Frank Baum’s iconic land over the rainbow, complete with giant lollypops, inflatable donuts and glittery cannabis leaves - because they love green in Oz! Indeed, the whole production is filled with cleverly veiled references to many of the darker pleasures in life, with a delightfully dirty script, and many visual jokes and innuendos.
We first join Kelly Oz in Munchkinland, where she introduces us to her running mates in her bid for political power. Two decades after the ruby slippers clicked their heels, the scarecrow is now a meteorological expert, the lion is into BDSM and “Tin” is exploring their gender identity. We learn that the Wicked Witch of The West - Adele- is still at large and that a severe weather front is on its way - The Blizzard of Oz! As in the classic tale, poor weather brings an unexpected guest, Doro-they! Now all grown up, Doro-they identifies as non-binary and has sold the ruby slippers on eBay!
The haphazard band of reunited friends need to save Oz from the danger of the blizzard, with some musical numbers and comical asides along the way. ShayShay’s aim is “to make The Witches of Oz explicitly queer, complete with gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and trans characters. It is part-panto, part-jukebox musical, and pure camp!” They have certainly succeeded. Although full of jokes and fun, each character’s identity is treated sensitively and with respect, and it is a joy to see such a large part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum represented in the piece.
The cast have all embraced their individual characters, Fey Wey as The Wicked Witch and Grace Kelly Miller as Kelly Oz balance each other perfectly both giving fantastic vocal performances, and Fizz Sinclair gives fabulously fierce edge to Tin. There are some heart-warming moments, lots of laughs and many social issues addressed, including climate change, gender identity, sexuality and the occasional political references, but the show avoids being preachy or moralistic. ShayShay’s concept has been well realised and artfully executed.
The Dining element of the evening is a little chaotic. The venue feels a little overcrowded to the point of discomfort but the team at The Vaults work hard to ensure that everyone is fed with the support of some of the cast. Kelly Oz treats us to some musical numbers to fill these gaps - a welcome way to pass the time.
It is also great to note that The Vaults are introducing ‘Pay What You Can’ tickets across their seasonal programme to support those struggling to access culture in the current economic climate.
The Witches of Oz is an indulgently enjoyable evening out, and the perfect adult alternative to pantomime for the coming festive season.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sarah Brown
The Witches of Oz runs until 15 January 2023, with tickets available here.