The Wizard of Oz

Postcard Review by Caroline Russell-King

Show – Wizard of Oz

Playwright/Composers – By L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Haburg, background music by Herbert Stothart, adapted by John Kane from the movie owned by Turner Entertainment

Production Company/Theatre space – Alberta Theatre Projects with Forte Musical Theatre (professional) / The Martha Cohen Theatre, Werklund Centre.

Length – 2 Act (2 hours, 45 mins, one intermission)

Genre/s – Musical

Premise – When a tornado injures Dorothy she imagines a fantasy land where she enlists the aid of a scarecrow, tin man, and lion to find a wizard to help get her back home but first she has to defeat the Wicked Witch.

Why this play? Why now? –  It a recognizable much-loved musical for the family during the holiday season.

Curiosities – Why swop out the dog for a smaller stuffie and an understudy?

Notable Moment – The dog - it’s always the dog.

Notable writing – This iconic script with its songs and quotes are a brick in the road of popular culture. Through Judy Garland is also became meaningful to the Gay community with the phrase of “Friend of Dorothys”, the original script is rife symbolism e.g., poppies as poison. The protagonist has three goals: save her dog from being euthanized, find the Wizard to get back home, and defeat the bad witch. Two of these goals are accomplished, the fate of Toto is a much-debated plot hole. Plot aside, it’s the endearing lyrics and music that will live on.

Notable performances – Hannah Adamson as Dorothy defiantly looks like the iconic character but, doesn’t have the powerhouse voice and she gets stuck in the acting mode of pleading which ends up being one note. Her three companions compensate for this. Ryan Maschke’s tenacity and talent pays off (during Covid he mounted a successful production of Hair on a farm in the rain; that is tenacity to make art in the face of obstacles!) In the collective are Ethan Vasquez Taylor who makes a lovely Scarecrow. Jason Lemmon as Tinman is great fun. Kevin Corey reprises his role as the Cowardly Lion puuurfectly. Daniela Vlaskalic as The Wicked Witch is wicked in the best possible way. The show is a vehicle for the scene stealing talents of Duncan Hyciek-Mah.

Notable design/Production – Narda McCarroll’s innovative set design uses materials that would be swept up in the tornado then repurposed in brilliant ways. At a time where it seems every show is highly augmented with projections, she fuels the imagination of the younger members of the audience, illustrating how to play without electronics.

Notable direction – Director Tracy Power takes us on a fun imaginative adventure. Hidden in the show are many “easter eggs” which allude to other iconic images, Charlie’s Angels, Michael Jacskson, Elvis Presley, The Lion King…. These are fun for the adults.

One reason to see this show – It’s a wonderful Wizard of Oz.