This year’s Sydney Russell Musical was a performance of The Wiz. Everyone agreed that the show was the best one to date and that every person who performed was fantastic. Reporting on the event was Katie Trebes.

As soon as you walked into the hall you could hear the extremely talented band that featured both students and staff from the School. While members of the audience were taking their seats the band added a sense of grandeur and excitement before the performance even started. The backgrounds and props the musical needed were created by students who used their free time to help paint props and create the effect of the Land of Oz. The dancers and actors also had many props and costumes, many of which had a modern twist to them. For Dorothy, instead of sparkly slippers they had sparkly trainers, instead of a heart for Tin Man he had a heart shaped balloon and finally for Lion to gain courage he was given a drink. The choreography of the dancers were fantastic and not a single performer was out of time. The cast had fantastic acting skills even though for some of them it was their first time taking part in a school musical and performing in front of an audience. All of the actors were confident with their lines and they acted with maturity throughout the musical and they didn’t break character.

The lead actress Crystabel who played Dorothy said “I was excited and nervous to play the lead of the musical because it is my first time playing such an essential role, it was a big achievement for me. I worked my way up each time I participated in the School musicals, I started out in the chorus and got a more significant role every time I audience for the next musical.” She also said that she spent hours reading her lines and they practiced for three days a week after school, they also practiced on the weekend before the play for an incredible 6 hours. Crystabel said that she “enjoyed working with the other cast members as it gave me an insight into the other year groups who were participating in the play. I was able to connections with people I wouldn’t generally talk to.”

This is the first school play that I have ever been to and I have to admit it was a memorable performance that I am likely to never forget. I can honestly say that ‘The Wiz’ fulfilled my high expectations, it was a modern twist on a classic tale. A massive congratulation to all the performers and to everybody back stage who put time and effort into making ‘The Wiz’ into an amazing show for all the community to enjoy.

The cast was:

Dorothy – Crystabel Adomo
Aunt Em – Kaci Johnson
Uncle Henry – Khamila Hassan
Scarecrow – Amy Pieterse
Tinman – Koby Turner
Lion – Jewel Appiah
Munchkins – Joy Appiah, Jerome Bernard, Celine Kauna, Akua Osei-Dompreh, Eliie Byrne, Zaaria Moharari, Katie Paul
The Wiz – Jovan Alexander
Addaperle – Alisha Beard
Evillene – Khanya Mugadza-Khuma
Glinda – Gabriella Ewulomi
Messenger – Joy Appiah
Lord High Underling – Labella Anum
Mouse – Poppy Murphy, Lauren Mullett
Gate Keepers – Leo Hillsden, Jack Dovey
Monkey – Brainard Boateng
Citizens – Patricia Oliveros, Caterina Da Silva, Adannia Esekody
Winkies – Bethany Pennell, Kyla Douglas, Anita Ededjo-Joseph, Tianna Henry, Folakemi Omisore
Dancers – Patricia Oliveros, Charlie-May Compton, Holly Reeve, Amy Dawes, Kyla Douglas, Anita Ededjo-Joseph, Charlotte Lethbridge, Tianna Henry, Eleanor Jacobs, Emma Czarnowska
Yellow Brick Road – Charlie-May Compton, Poppy Murphy, Holly Reeve
Puppeteers – Khamila Hassan, Behtany Pennell, Tianna Henry

This year’s show put great demands on the cast: they all had to sing, dance, act, deliver comedy and say their lines in an American accent. They all rose to the occasion magnificently and gave stunning performances. We expected Crystabel, Koby, Gabriella, Jewel and Amy to be good, because we’ve seen them perform before, but in Brainard, Alisha, Khanya and Jovan, new stars were born.

On behalf of Miss Davies and all the staff, I’d like to congratulate all those students involved in the production, either as a performer or backstage. Well done everyone! You were all outstanding!