Wizard show pulls in big crowd and wows them

If you plan to see The Wizard of

ta¯huhu, I’d get booking. Saturday evening’s 80-minute performance attracted a capacity crowd who laughed uproariously, cheered wildly and applauded loudly enough to lift the roof of the Ma¯ngere Arts Centre.

This is the fifth school holiday production that Alison Quigan and Troy Tu’ua have co-directed. Ostensibly for families but really for everyone, they’ve put a uniquely South Auckland spin on The Wizard of Oz, staging it with a 50-strong cast, including a live band, all aged 9-30.

Four gender-fluid witches are “wicked” in every sense of the word; rainbow-attired munchkins hang out at Rainbow’s End, and feisty Dorothy (Irene Folau) leads her dog Koko (Aaron Ryan), the scarecrow (Josephine Mavaega), tinman (Bob Savea) and lion (Rokolani Lavea) to meet the Wizard of ta¯huhu (Torie Pickering) who hangs out at Winz (Wizards in NZ).

They’re pursued by Dorothy’s aunts (Luse Sua-Tuipulotu and Unaloto Funaki) who elicit the most laughs when sniping about whether Manu Samoa or the Ikale Tahi Tongan rugby team are best. Nearly every character gets a humorous backstory enlivened by dance (choreographer Parris Goebel, who was in Saturday night’s audience, would have been proud), song and wit.

The humour runs the gamut from physical comedy to sharp social commentary. There are jokes about privacy and social media; type 2 diabetes and its links to fast food, and running rivalry between Samoa and Tonga. Other Pasifika cultures come in for gentle ribbing.

Wordplays about size — little person Aaron Ryan makes jokes about not being tall enough for a ride at Rainbow’s End, while Lavea “the vegan lion” is happy to have his physical condition pointed out — are cleverly done.

Musical director Siosaia Folau has paired each song perfectly to the scenes they usher in; Lavea’s languid take on Radiohead’s Creep is breathtaking. It’s supported by an all-singing, all-dancing, sassy ensemble who show size is no barrier to being able to shake your booty.

Quigan and Tu’ua make theatre for the people, by the people and of the people.