Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Yep, there really is a stage version of The Wizard of Oz, which is pretty much a copy of the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland. It is currently playing at the Legacy Theatre in a revival that the very young may well appreciateā¦if they stay awake.
The problem with offering a stage production of a very popular and much-seen film classic is that the audience is bound to be at least five minutes ahead of you at every turn. Under Hannah Ryanās leisurely direction, the Legacy production often seems stuck in first, taking far too much time going down that yellow brick road. The cast includes one Equity actor Rod Brogan, remembered fondly here for his dramatic work in Legacyās Long Days last season. In Oz he plays both Professor Marvel and the title character with plenty of hammy good humor. The rest of the Legacy company might be more comfortable in a community theatre production, save for Annika Jonker, who does most of the heavy lifting playing the plucky Dorothy. Her singing of the iconic āOver the Rainbowā may not make you forget the Garland standard, but she gives it a nicely rendered interpretation.
One of the singular problems with this revival, however, is the scenic design by Ryan Howell. It consists of three wooden platforms at various heights that works just fine for the farm sequence that makes up the musicalās first 15 minutes. After that, unfortunately, it does not translate easily (to say the least!) to the many other areas required for the show, including Munchkinland, Emerald City and the haunted forest. Some yellow throw rugs are placed to represent the yellow brick road, a tower of wood boxes represents an apple tree (I think), the Wizard crouches behind what looks like a juke box, and the actors are forced to crawl about the various platforms making baffling exits and entrances. I often had to search for the Wicked Witch whenever she appeared in a dimly lit corner of the platform. Iāve rarely seen a design that worked so significantly against both the show and its acting company.
Pity poor Gus, playing the pivotal role of āTotoā, whose adorable paws never touch the stage, and who, for most of the show, is played by an unconvincing stuffed doppelganger. The small pit band, conducted by David Marottollo, suffices for the limitations of this production. Despite these issues, you still may not be able to help yourself sing along with that beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg score.
The Wizard of Oz continues at the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Island Road in Branford, Connecticut through August 9. For further information visit their website or call the box office at: 203.315.1901.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radioās āState of the Artsā program and the Stratford Crier and Artistic Director of Stratfordās Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website.
