This was the first show I would.have actually paid to see as I had high hopes of a belter of a show. Unfortunately, it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Wicked Wizard of Oz – A Cirque Spectacular at the Brighton Centre promised a bold, colourful reinvention of a much-loved classic, combining circus performance with familiar characters from the Wizard of Oz. On arrival, expectations were high. What followed, however, was less a magical night out and more an exercise in patience.
From early on, the production struggled to find its footing. The story felt loosely stitched together, and the much-advertised “cirque spectacular” elements were thin on the ground. Moments that should have delivered excitement or awe instead felt flat, repetitive, or under-rehearsed. Rather than being drawn into the world of Oz, I found myself increasingly aware of the gaps in pacing and energy.
The humour leaned heavily on exaggerated characterisation, often at the expense of any meaningful narrative flow. While this may appeal to very young children, it left little for adults to engage with. The staging failed to make effective use of the arena space, and for a production of this scale, it frequently felt surprisingly small and cheap.
My pain threshold is high — very high — and despite the mounting sense of disappointment, I forced myself to stay until the end. That decision was not shared by many others. A noticeable number of audience members chose to leave at the interval, which spoke volumes about how the show was being received.
There were flashes of colour and effort, and it’s clear the performers worked hard, but effort alone cannot compensate for a production that fails to deliver on its core promise. When a show markets itself as a spectacle, the spectacle has to be there — and here, it simply wasn’t.
In summary, Wicked Wizard of Oz is an ambitious idea let down by weak execution. As a one-star experience, it serves as a cautionary tale: strong branding and big promises are no substitute for genuine quality, polish and entertainment. For anyone considering attending, I would strongly recommend managing expectations — or spending your money elsewhere.
Add your first comment to this post