The Bathurst community is invited to follow the yellow brick road tonight when the Carillon Theatrical Society (CTS) raises the curtain for the opening night of The Wizard Of Oz.
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The society’s publicity officer Marty Ryan said the local amateur theatre group had put in months of hard work and was ready to deliver a polished performance at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.
“There are plenty of seasoned performers taking on some big roles in this production, along with some relatively new faces who have stepped up to deliver fantastic performances in key parts,” Mr Ryan said. “Bathurst has some amazing talent.”
The production is arguably the company’s most ambitious project to date, boasting a cast and crew of over 100 – and even one dog.
“Yes, we have a real dog playing the part of Toto,” Mr Ryan said. “He is a local animal and a seasoned veteran of the stage and screen, so he is sure to deliver a great performance.”
Mr Ryan said that when the call was put out last year to fill a certain pair of red slippers the community response was overwhelming.
“Literally hundreds came to audition. The great thing about doing The Wizard Of Oz is that there are a lot of roles for children, so we were able to get a lot of the kids who auditioned involved in the production.”
The iconic story of Dorothy and her dog Toto has been modernised by local thespian Emma Mason, who is directing the CTS adaptation.
“Emma’s interpretation is great,” Mr Ryan said. “While it remains true to the classic story, there are some modern twists that will delight audiences. Lighting, sound and visual effects have been utilised to add another dimension.”
