RUBY SLIP-UPS

London’s Southbank Centre’s ended up in a bit of a whirl over some poor reviews for its latest production of the family classic, ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

Despite boasting a strong cast including the likes of Roy Hudd and Gary Wilmot, the show’s producers must also have been dreaming of being ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ when theatregoers began posting their criticisms on the internet.

Suddenly, the tone changed with postings which suggested that, contrary to the critics, this ‘Oz’ was a thoroughly enjoyable night out.

All was well until someone noticed that the positive messages had all been sent by staff at the Southbank Centre. Oops!

With faces as red as Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers, the Centre’s directors came clean and announced an investigation.

Yes, bad reviews can cause sensitive, artistic egos to be wounded and truly awful write-ups can kill a production off. But weigh a couple of stinkers from the critics in the cheap seats against the global reputation which the Southbank Centre now has.

A fine artistic pedigree has melted away quicker than the Wicked Witch of the West under a bucket of water in the face of allegations that it not only put on a show whose only saving grace is a performing dog but of lying in an effort to get bums on seats!

As numerous theatrical productions and famous producers have noted over the years, there can be some kitsch, cult, enduring value in failing spectacularly. Reviews for the latest London ‘Oz’ were far from terminal but trying to undo the damage may have a lasting negative effect.

If only those behind the scam had taken advice from one of the musical’s characters. As the dim-witted scarecrow laments: “If I only had a brain….”.