The Wizard of Oz
★★★★☆ Wicked games
Haddington Corn Exchange, Fri 5 – Sat 13 Dec 2025
Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh, Fri 19 – Sat 27 Dec 2025
Review by Martin Gray
It’s fair dreich in Haddington but beyond the rainbow The Wizard of Oz brings the sunshine, courtesy of The Brunton’s panto.
We begin not in Kansas but in Pansas – well, we’re not far from Prestonpans – where a typical Scottish household is readying for Christmas. Kids Sammy and Maggie are causing chaos, Ma’s trying to keep the peace, Uncle Derek is distracted by conspiracy theories and big sister Dorothy wants to find excitement away from this colourless world.
Ben Cunningham (Scarecrow), Paul Beeson (Tin Man), Caitlin Anderson (Dorothy) and Alex Stewart (Lion). Pic: Rob McDougall.
And excitement away from this colourless world is exactly what Dorothy (Caitlin Anderson) finds when Hurricane Karen blows in, taking her to a Land of Oz steeped not so much in reflections of the early 20th century USA, as slices of Scotland today.
So instead of a heart, the Tin Foil Hat Man wants a PlayStation 6, North Berwick is worse than any Wicked Witch – familiarity breeds content.
There’s no reinventing the wheel though: Frank L Baum’s plot is intact, but the tweaked details make for huge fun. The flattened Wicked Witch of the East leaves behind ruby sandals, a gang of very naughty elves looking like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sub for the nightmarish flying monkeys (‘the costumes are cheaper’) and so on.
audience interaction
The audience interaction is terrific, from a crowd-created earthquake to get the Scarecrow off his fence, to the very game Dean stepping up from the audience when Glenda, the Good Witch of the East Lothian, needs a hero.
Mind, the traditional Clootie Sheet end singalong is a tad restrained, with the ‘toun song’ swapped out for some Pink Pony Club nonsense we ancient folk don’t know. I think I recognised K-pop hit Golden along with Abracadabra (Lady Gaga, not the Steve Miller Band), but don’t quote me.
Caitlin Anderson (Dorothy) Graham Crammond (Glenda) and Nicola Jo Cully (Wicked Witch of the West). Pic: Rob McDougall.
There’s no mistaking a panto-tweaked I Will Survive, delivered with style by Glenda, while Merry Christmas Everyone is a climactic banger. And this being 2025, the EasyJet TV ad song adds to the jollity.
Wizard of Oz-wise, there’s a fun We’re Off to See the Wizard from Dorothy and friends, while Somewhere Over the Rainbow showcases Caitlin Anderson’s lovely voice, though the arrangement is a tad noodly, with phrasing that sounds odd when Judy Garland is nailed to your brain.
Anderson really is terrific, though, as a Dorothy determined to sell her ‘emotional arc’ to the audience while being forever undermined by the antics of the aforementioned Tin Foil Hat Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion – played, respectively, by Paul Beeson, Ben Cunningham and Alex Stewart, who are all stonkingly good.
vocal support
A terrific ensemble, they generously step back to support the teams of kids in the big dance numbers – Group 1 tonight! – while lending vocal support. The harmonies are never better than in an amazingly good take on One More Day in the Emerald City from Wicked – there are no jokey replacement lyrics, it’s pure musical theatre joy.
Wicked doesn’t escape the parody treatment, though, as Glenda, Brunton legend Graham Crammond, narrates a whirlwind version of the films (‘There you go Mums and Dads, I’ve just saved you 19 hours’). He’s aided by Mini Glenda (Lucia Di Giorgio, Freya Russell, Maggie Else and Grace White sharing the role) and Mini Effie (Sophia Marshall, Tegan Taylor, Lily Wallis, Olivia Cruickshank).
Ben Cunningham (Scarecrow), Graham Crammond (Glenda) and Caitlin Anderson (Dorothy). Pic: Rob McDougall.
Glenda bemoans the fact she’s not the star this year, but really, all the players are stars. And that includes Toto (Mila Purdie tonight, with Isla Brown, Martha Robertson and Amelia Reid also in the furry timeshare), whose dug-language attempts to tell the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Foil Hat Man where Dorothy has been secreted by the Wicked Witch of the West are a hoot.
Speaking of Witch – sorry, whom – Nicola Jo Cully is a delight as the scourge of Oz and Dorothy’s dog-hating landlady, earning the boos with her wicked ways, and leading the Young Elf Team in dance numbers with aplomb as she covets those ruby sandals.
Sort it out ELC!
It’s just a shame no one beyond the front row could see the things… Haddington Corn Exchange, not being a theatre, doesn’t have raked seating, so anything of import that’s low on the stage – hello Toto – may as well not be there. Was there a Yellow Brick Road? No idea! Perhaps the Wizard could provide us with booster seats…
Also, the hall is blooming cold. Come on East Lothian Council, sort out a replacement theatre for Musselburgh’s Brunton.
Nicola Jo Cully (Witch of the West) and her gang of very naughty elves. Pic: Rob McDougall.
Oops, little bit of politics! Still, that’s local panto: you take the Mickey out of the people taking you for a ride, and Wizard of Oz writers Jack Nurse and Robbie Gordon, and director Bruce Strachan, should take a bow for fulfilling their Pantotown duty, with some nice gags at the expense of our supposed betters.
Other highlights include a hugely impressive tongue twister battle between Beeson and Cunningham, Cora Todd’s surprising turn as Maggie, and the team-up between sound designer Clark Beedie and lighting designer Craig Dixon which brings Hurricane Karen to colourful, noisy life.
entertained during tough times
A round of applause, too, for musical director Matthew Brown and his unseen band – I suspect they’re hidden in the enchanted forest – and costume designer Ethan James, who presided over the efforts of the costume students of QMU. And of course, well done to everyone at the Brunton, for ensuring we’re entertained during tough times.
By the end of the show it’s Christmas Day, and only someone missing a heart and a brain would be failing to feel the festive spirit. Just wonderful.
Running time: Two hours and 20 minutes (including one interval)
Haddington Corn Exchange, Court Street, Haddington EH41 3DS.
Fri 5 – Sat 13 Dec 2025
Daily (not Sat-Tue): 7pm. Sat: 1pm & 5pm. Fri 12 mat: 2pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Loretto School Theatre, Millhill, Musselburgh.
Friday 19 – Saturday 27 December 2025
Fr 19/Sat 20, Mon 22/Tue 23: 2pm & 7pm;
Wed 24, Fri 26/Sat 27: 1pm & 5pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Wizard of Oz Cast and Chorus. Pic: Rob McDougall.
ENDS
