Review

The Wizard of Oz
by Northglenn Youth Theatre

Cameron Pollock, Ethan Knowles, Emily Gould, and Michael Ochoa If L. Frank Baum had written his classic turn-of-the-century fantasy in 1960, would he still have had Dorothy Gale get back to Kansas by wishing to be home and clicking her magic slippers, or would he have instead written her flying back to Kansas in a rocket ship? Because that’s how Frank Gabrielson re-imagined the story when he wrote the “MUNY” stage version of The Wizard of Oz which borrows parts from the MGM film, parts from the original book, and lots of parts from his own mind. His creation is not one of the most beloved shows of all time, which is why most theatres choose to do the version based more precisely on the film. But Director Kimberly Jongejan and Northglenn Youth Theatre took the risk and put on a rare MUNY version, giving us all a chance to finally see all Gabrielson’s wacky changes to the story we thought we knew so well.

Some of them are kind of amusing, like the rocket ship (or, in this case, rocket packs are used, although it’s unlikely that the Wizard would have created two rocket packs). And then there’s the Wicked Witch of the West discussing magic spell recipes with a coven of other witches. But overall the MUNY version lacks the plot flow and seems to miss the heart of the story that the film captures so well.

It begins with a bland, awkward opening scene. For there is no Toto, Miss Gulch, or Professor Marvel, without which there is no story to draw us to this Dorothy character who seems not at all close with her Aunt Em and other relatives (which is rather like the original book). And perhaps that’s why she rockets back to Kansas instead of chanting that there’s no place like home, as we see no love in her home at all. It adds another layer to the Wizard of Oz’s question when he amusingly asks Dorothy, “Why would anyone want to go back to Kansas?”

Dorothy never runs away from home. Instead, the twister comes just after the singing of Over the Rainbow, which in this version is not done in a private moment with her best friend Toto, but as a song she sings to the sky while her family and the entire town gathers around to listen. Once the twister is spotted, Dorothy begins to follow her relatives to safety, but then inexplicably veers off into the house by herself where she gets caught up in the tornado that takes her to Oz.

Things get better from there, but Gabrielson’s plot is still awkward. The Munchkins, who are very charming and amusingly timid when checking out the house that just fell on the witch, tell the “Sorceress of the North” about the remarkable event (with Rachel Faught as the sugary and smiling Glinda-like good witch wearing Sixties go-go boots). But the Munchkins leave the scene before Dorothy walks out, the good witch and the Wicked Witch of the West never meet, and Dorothy ends up spending a long time traveling through Munchkinland before she reaches Munchkinville and gets guided toward the Emerald City on the Yellow Brick Road.

The cast is led by thirteen-year-old Emily Gould as Dorothy who has a fine operatic voice, although that seems somewhat out of place for young Dorothy Gale from rural turn-of-the-century Kansas. The MUNY version added a love ballad called Evening Star that Dorothy sings after convincing the young ladies of the Emerald City that she knows something about romantic love. It’s completely out of place in the story, but Emily’s voice fits best with this song.

Dorothy is surrounded by three good friends, with three good actors in the roles. Michael Ochoa is a very appealing and limber Scarecrow with mindless expressions masking an intelligent brain. Cameron Pollock oozes gentleness and heart as the heartless Tin Man, and Ethan Knowles is a humorous cowardly Lion given to nervous stomach and groaning. And some growling, as he is doing when the Wicked Witch turns on her “MUNY” magic window screen from which she sees the four heroes approaching her castle. “What’s that?” she asks as the lion roars mightily. “I believe it’s Metro Goldwyn Mayer,” her friend responds, a nod to the studio that gave us the film.

Said Wicked Witch is definitely not your classic Wicked Witch of the West. Sarah LeFever plays a modern woman in modern dress with a very pragmatic, businesslike attitude. Other fine performances come from Terra Salazar as the Wizard’s daughter Gloria, Christopher Sheridan as a Wizard out of the 60’s Woodstock era, and Kyle Steeno as the witch’s skeletal first mate Tibia.

The show has some clever comedy sprinkled throughout, as well as some comic scenes that would be better shortened. Most notably the gate guard scene where eleven guards echo each other’s orders, taking about a minute each round, and going on about six or seven times – long after any comic effect has been lost. But an elaborate, reverent gesture by the Sorceress of the North and the Munchkins every time the Wizard of Oz is mentioned is always funny.

And finally, there are the outstanding costumes. Debbie Faber had some fun with this one, including Jitterbugs with neon-lit abdomens, glowing ghosts, a great variety of blue-and-white outfits for the Munchkins, and some creations that mix the Land of Oz with the Sixties theme. Even the stagehands are dressed up as winged monkeys. Her work is both imaginative and suits the character, enhancing every scene.

Performs April 13-22, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

~ Cast ~

Dorothy: Emily Gould
Scarecrow: Michael Ochoa
Tin Man: Cameron Pollock
Lion: Ethan Knowles
Wicked Witch of the West: Sarah LeFever
Sorceress of the North: Rachel Faught
Wizard of Oz: Christopher Sheridan
Auntie Em: Susie Matthews
Uncle Henry: Jon McMinn
Joe: Brandon Lopez
Lord Growlie: TJ Schindele
Gloria: Terra Salazar
Army Private: Trevor Jargon
First General: Josh Leisure
Munchkin Mayor: Michael Sloan
Munchkin Farmer: Jared Wold
Munchkin Barrister: Dylan Lopez
Munchkin Coroner: Ian Regan
Mombi: Aubrey Putnam
Bubonia: Melanie Ralph
Tibia: Kyle Steeno
Oz Lady with Abusive Umbrella: Lauren Lewakowski
Oz Servant: Brian Thomas
Ozma: Mike Martinez

Farmer Chorus:
Mark Ciotta
Kierra Criswell
Courtney Deuschle
Desi Garneau
Stacee Graham
Shelby Grasser
Trevor Jargon
Josh Leisure
Lauren Lewakowski
Graham Martin
Taylor Mason
Aubrey Putnam
Melanie Ralph
Kalin Robbins
Terra Salazar
TJ Schindele
Kyle Steeno
Brian Thomas
Samantha Varvir

Munchkins:
Christopher Bowman
Mitchel Fabian
Fallon Gyurko
Allex Hadfield
Madeline Jongejan
Mike Martinez
Anna Orsborn
Abigail Orsborn
Haley Pachelo
Autumn Schwinn
Kelsey Stauffer
Adrian Ulm
Kira Vuolo
Hannah Wold

Ghosts: Madeline Jongejan
Brandon Lopez
Mike Martinez
Susie Matthews
Abigail Orsborn
Haley Pachelo
Michael Sloan
Brian Thomas
Kira Vuolo

Generals:
Christopher Bowman
Mark Ciotta
Mitchel Fabian
Brandon Lopez
Dylan Lopez
Graham Martin
Jon McMinn
Ian Regan
Adrian Ulm

Ozians:
Christopher Bowman
Mark Ciotta
Courtney Deuschle
Mitchel Fabian
Fallon Gyurko
Allex Hadfield
Graham Martin
Mike Martinez
Jon McMinn
Anna Orsborn
Kelsey Stauffer
Adrian Ulm
Hannah Wold
Jared Wold

Emerald City Girls:
Kierra Criswell
Desi Garneau
Stacee Graham
Shelby Grasser
Taylor Mason
Kalin Robbins
Autumn Schwinn
Samantha Varvir

JitterBugs:
Kierra Criswell
Courtney Deuschle
Desi Garneau
Fallon Gyurko
Haley Pachelo
Aubrey Putnam
Kelseyy Stauffer
Hannah Wold

Director: Kimberly Jongejan
Musical Director: Glen Dennis
Asst. Director/Stage Manager/Masks: Rachel Brazell
Technical Director/Set Design: Lisa Baird
Choreographer: Angila Waldman
Costumes: Debbie Faber

   

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