Search - Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg :: The Wizard of Oz (1988 London Cast)

The definitive stage recording

Ryan Hartley | California, USA | 08/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is currently the most definitive recording of the Wizard of Oz as a stage production. The score has been reconstructed to capture the sound of the movie, while expanding on certain scenes such as the "Merry Old Land of Oz" and "Jitterbug" (the latter of which was cut entirely in the film). Other recordings of the stage version have surfaced, but they include awkward musical cuts and unfaithful re-arrangements. They are not, for the most part, accurate representations of the score as it is rented for production. As a director and actor, this is the only recording I would use to learn and teach the show.

Some of the vocals might be off-putting to an American audience, as some interesting accents creep in here and there. Gillian Bevan sings and talks very much in the Judy Garland style, but sounds and looks too old for the role of Dorothy. Joyce Grant as Aunt Em and Glinda is not ideal, and the producers made the very English decision of having the Wicked Witch played by a man (as a dame role). But the other performances more than make up for the above: Paul Greenwood, Simon Green, and David Glover are excellent as the Scarecrow, Tinman, and Emerald City Guard, respectively. The Trees, Crows, and most of the Munchkins are also quite charming.

The only glaring changes that have been made in the rented score since the recording are the rearrangement of some dialogue in "If I Only Had a Brain", and the replacement of the Busby Berkely-style dance break in "The Merry Old Land of Oz" with a Tap Dance."