The Wizard of One

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – The Wizard of One

Playwright –

Production Company/Theatre space – Calgary Fringe / The Kinkonauts @ BLOX Arts Centre

Length – 45 minutes

Genre/s – Absurdist drama/fantasy crossover

Premise – Frank has to defeat his evil soon-to-be daughter-in-law and follow the yellow wires to the man in the basement with three other people who are similar to the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow to escape a senior citizens’ home and return to their own home.

Why this play? Why now? – The Wizard of Oz is a fan favourite.

Curiosities – I wonder what the 90-year-old James will think looking back.

Notable Moment – A fabulous one-man sword fight with a cane and a broom.

Notable writing – “Seniors breaking out of the home” is a well-worn trope; there are hundreds of plays about grandpa and grandma making a break for it but none that crossover with into Oz. What’s fun is that we are all waiting for the jokes and images that parallel the movie. My favourite was the sticky lollipop children.

Notable performances – Some shows at the Fringe have the feel of being thrown together after being rehearsed in someone’s basement for three minutes; others are slick productions from folks who have been doing the same show for years. Fortunately, this is the latter. James creates a little gem of a show - a highly polished citrine that sparkles.

Notable design/Production – Using an hourglass, a brochure, a glass of purple water, a broom, and a cane James creates a whole Oz-like world.

Notable direction – Very clean and precise.

One reason to see this show – It’s going on to the Edmonton Fringe -- go off to see the wizard…