The Wizard of Oz - Altrincham Garrick

DESIGNER Barry Purves certainly wasn’t kidding when he told me his latest set is colourful.

But it provides the perfect backdrop for a tale that has lost none of its power to engage and entertain even though the movie of the same name is 85 years old.

Anyone who follows Barrington Road to the Garrick this week can expect an evening of theatre magic that’s destined to be a huge hit, as it was with big kids in the audience like me.

A pity then that Barrington Road isn’t paved with yellow bricks. But you can’t have everything.

While I know this story backwards it has lost none of its power to capture the imagination and if you’re looking for an antidote to these dark and dank early autumn nights this is most definitely it.

Ciara-Alexandra Booker is a perfect Dorothy, the heroine of the piece, treating us to a show stealing performance as early as the musical’s first number, the immortal classic Over The Rainbow.

After being whisked away to the magical land of Oz, which can be summed up in the phrase expect the unexpected, she makes friends with a group of characters as colourful as the show’s set.

There’s a natural bond between Booker and Ronan Pilkington, Connor J Ryan and Matt Spilsbury as they bring The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion so effectively to life, each character with their own dreams.

Director Joseph Meighan has taken this talented company to the next theatrical level and, at the time of writing, very few tickets remained.

Meighan even found time to co-design the set.

Until November 3. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk.

Star rating - *****

Photo - Martin Ogden.