The Wizard of Oz is as much a part of Christmas as turkey and tinsel, and this year the Teddington Theatre Club are heading over the rainbow for their Yuletide production.
There is a storm blowing over Kansas. Dorothy and her trusty sidekick, Toto, take refuge in the cellar of her aunt's house.
But when she wakes up and realises the storm has passed, Dorothy finds herself in a strange land inhabited by munchkins who tell her the only hope she has of getting back to Kansas is by following the yellow brick road and getting the Wizard of Oz to help her.
On her travels Dorothy meets up with a scarecrow who wants a brain, a lion who wants some courage and a tin-man who wants a heart. Together they set off in search of the wizard, but the wicked witch of the west is determined to stop them.
Dealing with a cast of 34 and a dog is director Michelle Hood, whose approach to the Wizard of Oz is positively Homeric.
"It is all about searching for something but then realising what you are looking for is at home all the time," said Michell.
"Like Odysseus, he spent years travelling the seas in search of something yet all the time what he was searching for was at home. It is all about being happy with what you have got and not falling into the trap of believing the grass is always greener."
Michelle is echoing the film version with her use of colour.
"At the start everything in Kansas is in black, grey and sepia but when she goes over the rainbow everything is in colour. At the end when she returns home everything is in very rich colour and what that says is that the colours were there the whole time, but Dorothy couldn't see them."
Leaving the subtexts alone, Michelle points out the show is a joy to work on.
"This is a very happy play, you cannot be unhappy when performing in it. If you are unhappy you cannot be true to the story and you have to believe in the piece as well.
"Like pantomime where you have women playing men, you have to believe anything can happen."
And in this production anything can happen.
"We have got flying monkeys, a whirlwind, you name it we've tried it! This is the RSC production, which was based on the original MGM script, so it has been challenging. The hardest part has been the music because the score is massive and we only have three musicians but they have done a fantastic job. The whole cast have been great and we are so lucky to be able to perform in such a wonderful theatre."
The Wizard Of Oz, Hampton Hill Playhouse, 90 High Street, Hampton Hill, December 11-18, £6-£10. Call 020 8979 9499 from 2pm-9pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article