{"id":397428,"date":"2024-11-20T06:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T22:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/?p=397428"},"modified":"2024-12-05T08:19:03","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T00:19:03","slug":"theatre-wild-rices-wizard-of-oz-takes-dorothy-from-yishun-to-oz-in-a-hilarious-and-heartfelt-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citynomads.com\/theatre-wild-rices-wizard-of-oz-takes-dorothy-from-yishun-to-oz-in-a-hilarious-and-heartfelt-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"Theatre: Wild Rice’s Wizard of Oz Takes Dorothy from Yishun to Oz in a Hilarious and Heartfelt Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”
\n<\/strong>“I’m not a witch at all. I’m Dorothy of Yishun. Block 302! “<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ahh yes, Singapore<\/a>‘s infamous neighbourhood of Yishun<\/a> is no stranger to the limelight – from wild boars running its streets to Former President Halimah Yacob’s big move away from the neighbourhood<\/a>, Yishun has always found a way to make its way to our newspapers and social<\/a> media platforms. Now, this storied neighbourhood has taken centre stage in Wild Rice<\/strong>\u2019s reimagined production of The Wizard of Oz<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, originally by L. Frank Baum.<\/p>\n

The Singaporean take sees the protagonist, Dorothy (a true-blue Yishunite), swept up by a cyclone and transported to the magical land of Oz. There, she discovers a vibrant community where the Munchkins enjoy an atas lifestyle in the East, while the Winkies in the West slog away under the oppressive rule of the Wicked Witch. To get back home, Dorothy embarks on a quest following the yellow brick road in search of the great Wizard of Oz, joined by a Hokkien-speaking Scarecrow, a Tin Man with a PhD in \u201ccheem-istry,\u201d and a sensitive Lion who\u2019d much rather crochet and bake cookies\u2014but alas, has no oven…or friends. Meanwhile, Dorothy must evade the Wicked Witch, who is determined to snatch her magical red slippers.<\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/p>\n

Playwright Alfian Sa\u2019at<\/strong> works his award-winning magic, imbuing the production with humour and poignant reflections on Singaporean life. Through witty dialogue and clever metaphors, the play subtly addresses issues like the modern-day \u201cslavery\u201d of foreign workers, the gentrification of neighbourhoods serving up S$7 coffees with latte art, and our society\u2019s relentless pursuit of productivity, efficiency and being the best. Director Ivan Heng<\/strong>\u2019s flair brings the show alive, complemented by Elaine Chan\u2019<\/strong>s catchy tunes and dare I say, the cutest ensemble<\/strong> I’ve witnessed to date. The production dazzles with its set design, costumes, and seamless projection and lighting effects, fully immersing the audience in Oz\u2019s quirky charm. At nearly three hours, the show somehow maintains its energy, delivering a performance free of dull moments.<\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/p>\n

Rebecca Dass<\/strong> as Dorothy, does an impeccable job at retaining the attention and engagement of the audience. Karen Tan<\/strong> showcases her versatility by juggling multiple roles, while Dwayne Lau<\/strong>\u2019s Wicked Witch \u201cLiza\u201d brings attitude and style. Timothy Wan<\/strong>\u2019s karaoke-loving, Singlish-speaking Scarecrow and Benjamin Chow<\/strong>\u2019s brainy Tin Man kept us in stitches, but the show-stealer for us might just be Siti Khalijah Zainal<\/strong>\u2019s sensitive Lion\u2014a character so endearing, you\u2019d want to join in his crochet circle.<\/p>\n

This comedy is a delightful treat for kids while offering adults plenty to laugh about and ponder. It reminds us to appreciate what we have, rather than yearning for what we think we\u2019re missing.<\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/p>\n

We only wish it were on a streaming platform so we could revisit it again and again. While that\u2019s not the case, the musical\u2019s catchy songs are now available on Spotify to keep the magic alive. A must-see in our opinion, if you\u2019re looking for a whimsical, laugh-out-loud production this festive season, The Wizard of Oz by Wild Rice is the perfect choice.<\/p>\n