Everybody in the world has seen the film a dozen times, so does that make it an advantage or a disadvantage for a stage version? Well, in terms of accuracy, this particular production has nothing to worry about. In many ways the star of the show was Helga Woods's set and costume designs - fabulous woods and castles, backdrops with that hazy, picturesque quality reminiscent of the film, and effective solutions to the peregrinating nature of the action.
Rainbow-wigged munchkins did seem to momentarily entrance restless toddlers. Almost all the key characters were superbly cast and played - Rachel Pittman wholly believable as Dorothy and Patrick Jenkins, especially, evoking an effortless sense of pathos as The Wizard/Professor Marvel. Even children's TV personality, Toby Anstis, as the Scarecrow, proved more than a billboard sop to a certain age group.
But, as stage entertainment, per se, its success was qualified. Neither full-blooded pantomime nor adult musical, its problem was related to the age range of its audience and its ability to cater continuously for the lowest attention span. A little script editing and more pyrotechnical gimmickry could perhaps smooth the way here, but it was heartening to see a seasoned pro like Ted Rodgers - the cowardly lion - working the available script brilliantly for every laugh going.