THE wonderful Wizard Of Oz never fails to endear itself to another generation. Last night, there were children aplenty in a busy, bustling first-night house, all wishing to join Dorothy as she followed the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. That yellow colour scheme had spread even to the programme: a bright idea!

You know the story, we all know the story of Dorothy (Nicola Pittman), the Kansas farm girl with the spangling red slippers, who is transported to Oz in a whirling, spiralling tornado, here depicted by the spinning of the farmhouse. Not before she has had time to sing Over The Rainb-ow, wide and innocent of eye and pure of singing voice, leading the ensemble in a spirited reprise.

Bang! The Good Witch (Marie Butler) makes an entrance as loud as Friday's (and Saturday's and Sunday's fireworks), whereupon Dorothy encounters the Munchkins, led by Paul Bradley's eye-catching Munchkin Mayor. Gareth Cheesman, in his first appearance for New Earswick and indeed his musical debut, takes to the stage like a duck to water, immediately humorous and warm as the stumbling Scarecrow.

This is not, however, a show only for the young ones. Director Ann McCreadie casts New Earswick stalwart Alan Rome as the Tinman, and his experience is a useful glue to bond all around him together. How he enjoys himself singing If Only I Had A Heart.

The pick of Dorothy's three co-travellers is Steve Padfield's Cowardly Lion. His coming timing is a delight, he uses the stage with aplomb and his voice has humorous notes to it. He gets funnier as the show progresses.

Carol Richardson's Wicked Witch Of The West pierces the air like a screech owl with her withering laugh, Colin Dearlove's Wizard Of Oz is suitably wizened, and Don Pears and his orchestra bring plenty of bounce to the score. Robert Readman's scenery is one of his more basic designs, but that leaves the magic to Pittman and Padfield in particular.

The Wizard Of Oz, New Earswick Musical Society, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday, Novemeber 13. Box office: 01904 623568.

Updated: 10:27 Wednesday, November 10, 2004