Feeling a Little Bit Strange!

I feel rather strange writing this article for the newsletter in the capacity of Chairman rather than Editor, although it would appear that I will hold on to my title as "Editor" too! The new title is not something that I had anticipated and were it not for an excellent committee to support me I would feel very vulnerable! Still here I am and it at least enables me to express some of my views rather than those of someone else!

First I would like to thank the outgoing committee for leaving the Society in such good shape, with special thanks to John Morell for his direction over the last year. I sincerely hope that John will continue to contribute to the Society in the future (indeed there are a number of directing slots that could have his name on!)

I feel a special mention is also in order for Paul West and Phil Courage who became Honoury Members at the AGM in March, recognising their outstanding contribution to the Society. Both have been loyal, respected and much loved members for as many years as I have been involved in the Society, and who knows for how many centuries before that! And as long term members they will know only too well that we expect even more from our honoury members as we do from our other members!

For those of you who don't know me (apart from being the Newsletter editor) I am one of the 'back stage' guys who arrives before everyone else, sits at the back of the auditorium behind the lighting desk all week and then remains behind afterwards to clear up. And whilst this doesn't sound very glamourous it is worth saying that it affords me one of the best seats in the house for every performance. I have absolutely no desire to try anything 'on stage': my one excursion in this direction was when I went on as the back end of a cow and that was more than enough thank you!

I have been a member of the Society since my teenage years and during that time I have watched it develop and flourish, something I very much hope it will continue to do. However this will only happen with the full support of all the members, whether they are involved in directing or acting, set design and construction, costume, props, front of house or any one of the numerous other jobs vital to the success of a production. I am reliably informed that there were some 80 people involved in the Wizard of Oz. That represents a big 'team' by any standards and clearly demonstrates the huge enthusiasm our 'membership' has for the productions we put on.

As Chairman I shall strive to provide the framework in which the energies and talents in the Society are channelled to enable us to continue to provide the very high standards of productions we and our loyal audiences have grown to expect.

I am very much looking forward to seeing you all at 'The Taming of the Shrew' and all our other productions and events throughout the year. In the meantime, if there is anything you wish to express a view on, either to myself or to the membership as a whole, please let me here it!

The Society is always on the look out for directors for future productions, so if you have a yearning to direct, or know someone who does, please get in touch.

For all those of you who haven't paid up yet our new Membership Secretary, Beryl Baggs, would love to here from you! There is an application form attached and Beryl can be contacted on 01225 761720. The membership fee is just £10 and there is now a fixed one off rehearsal fee of £10 for each cast member. Both fees are reduced to £5 for those under 18.

For those who were unable to attend the AGM, our Treasurer, Fiona Davies, has calculated the operating profit for the year to December 2000 to be £4,000.

The Wizard of Oz

This proved a tremendous hit playing to packed houses every night. Well done to everyone involved. Fiona tells me that the final profit was around £1,500, so a brilliant performance all round - so brilliant in fact that I have included no less than two reviews in this newsletter!

Beryl has also made a block booking to see 'Beauty and the Beast' at the Bristol Hippodrome on 15th March 2002. The seats are in the stalls, rows K & L, and are £28 each. If anyone is interested in taking up some of the tickets please get in touch with Beryl on 01225 761720.

The Wizard of Oz - Review Number One

My children were very excited when I said "We're off to see the wizard..." and they were not disappointed. From the children's perspective, every scene was as exciting as it should be - but when it got to the "he's behind you" slapstick routine, well I guess it was the cast who were disappointed as it went straight over the audience's heads! Maybe a helping hand from one of the cast or a strategically placed viewer could have encouraged participation.

Each main character was well portrayed and the cast really did look as though they were enjoying it. A particularly enthusiastic entrance by Baranie Millais as the Scarecrow, probably the most convincing character in the performance.

The general scenery was less exciting than one has come to expect from the Bradfordians, but once the props and special effects had been added for the Bridge, Witches & Oz scenes, things became far more colourful and eventful.

Make-up and glow-in-the-dark outfits really made the Witch's scene memorable and the children were thoroughly amused by the shrinking of the Witch in the cauldron (so were the adults!).

Overall a great performance by the whole cast, helped along with a young but strong chorus of Munchkins all sporting strong voices.

My whole family enjoyed every minute!

Keep up the good work Bradfordians, but next time - lose the accents!

The Wizard of Oz - A Review of Saturday Matinee

On the 24th of February I went to see the Wizard of Oz presented by the Bradfordians Dramatic Society. In act one scene one, Dorothy is late home from school; her Aunt gets worried because there is a twister on its way, Dorothy then arrives home, the twister comes and Dorothy is blown away in her house. I thought this was a very good opening scene introducing the first main characters to the play; we find out that Dorothy lives with her aunt and uncle in Kansas. This scene had good special effects and props especially when the twister came, I thought it looked and felt realistic.

In act one scene two Dorothy wakes up inside the house but she has been blown away to a strange place, the munchkins who are very shy, hide until one of them plucks up the courage to knock on the door of the house. This scene shows Dorothy in new surroundings, introducing the land of Oz to both the audience and to Dorothy, I think the songs in this scene show the audience that Oz is a magical wonderland and that anything could happen, I also thought these were sung very well.

In scene three Dorothy finds the Tinman and the Scarecrow and the Lion and they set of on their journey to the Emerald City of Oz. I thought this scene was good because it is the beginning of the adventure and was acted very well with lots of feeling, we also find out the different problems of the characters and they are shown very well in the actors and actresses voices. In act one scene four Dorothy and her friends set off through the forest and along the yellow brick road. I particularly liked this scene because it shows adventure and the fabulous song.

'Follow the Yellow Brick Road' was sung very well by Dorothy and her friends. In act two scene one Dorothy and her friends arrive at the Emerald City of Oz. I like this scene because we got to know more and more about each character as they end their journey, I thought the Lion was particularly good in this scene.

In act two scene two Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Lion travel to the Wicked Witch of the West's castle, Dorothy gets captured and the Tinman the Scarecrow and the Lion go to save her. I liked this scene because it had a lot of action and good special effects in it and in this scene the Scarecrow was very good.

In act two scene three Dorothy and her friends go back to the palace but the Wizard of Oz won't do anything for them. I think this scene is great because it shows that not everyone that tries to look mighty is mighty. I think this scene is a very good ending scene because it shows Dorothy and friends helping the Wizard of Oz and a happy ending when Dorothy gets to go home.