While there may be “no place like home” Drayton Entertainment proves the on stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz can rival the wildly popular cinematic spectacle of 1939.
From speech intonation to character mannerisms the actors at the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge opening night left movie aficionados dazzled by the similarities between stage and screen.
Yet, through the stage adaptation, more musical numbers and characters are introduced adding dimension and pushing the story line forward, giving the musical its own distinct life and feel.
The Wizard of Oz follows the story of Dorothy Gale who is caught in a twister, along with her trusty pooch, Toto, and ends up over the rainbow in the Land of Oz. After donning the iconic ruby slippers and travelling down the yellow brick road, Dorothy finds new friends in the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. The quartet set off on an exhilarating and dangerous adventure to find the Wizard in the hope that all their wishes will come true.
Using clever visuals, lighting, smoke and fire, director Madeline Paul and lighting designer Jason Hand, along with the rest of the cast and crew, pull the audience members into the magical land over the rainbow, leaving them wondering just where some characters melt and where others fly. With one set design melding seamlessly into the next, the audience is swept up into the story and characters, only realizing they’ve moved from Kansas, to Munchkinland, to the forest, to Oz and beyond when the plot identifies the new location.
Clever set and costume design, created by Rachel Berchtold, even give the Kansas set a dull and muted feel, similar to the black and white filming in the cinematic version. When Dorothy lands in Oz, the colours are bright and vibrant on stage, further mimicking the original and clearly signaling to the audience, “We’re not in Kansas anymore.”
AJ Bridel, as Dorothy, kicks off the musical production with a stellar rendition of Over The Rainbow that would have made Judy Garland proud.
Throughout the show, the audience can be lulled into believing Bridel is Garland if members close their eyes and listen exclusively to the cadence of her voice, in speech and song.
Yet, when the plot moves from movie mimic to original script, Bridel expertly brings Dorothy along without a break in stride, keeping true to her character. Bridel was a runner-up in the CBC reality show, Over The Rainbow, and played Peter Pan in Drayton Entertainment’s production of Peter Pan: The Panto.
Early on in her time in Oz, Dorothy happens across the Wicked Witch of The West. Jackie Mustakas’ portrayal of the iconic villain is spot on, her cackle and erratic movements chilling the audience to the bone.
This isn’t Mustakas’ first villainous role; she was the evil Queen Diabolica in Drayton Entertainment’s Snow White: The Panto last Christmas.
Jamie McKnight’s quirky interpretation of the brain-seeking Scarecrow wins over the audience from his first attempt to give Dorothy directions.
He convinces the audience he’s stuffed with straw and brainless as he throws himself around the stage with no abandon at all during If I only had a Brain, falling, stumbling, wandering off and getting caught up in the wrong crowd. Yet he always finds his way back to Dorothy when she needs him most.
Dorothy’s other sidekicks, the heart-seeking Tin Man and courage-seeking Lion, played by Mike Jackson and Nick Settimi respectively, show a unique yet fitting interpretation of the iconic characters.
When the Tin Man is rusted Jackson gives a believable performance through both his voice and his actions. Settimi tackles the legendary cowardly Lion with finesse and spunk, making the character his own.
While audience members waiting to see a “horse of a different colour” are destined for disappointment, the presence of Flynn, the real life Toto, will melt every heart in the theatre.
From following at Dorothy’s heels to lying on a hay bale while she sings Over The Rainbow to calmly resting in Dorothy’s basket, Flynn, a Shorkie rescue dog, steals the show on more than one occasion with audience members sighing and chuckling collectively at his infallible cuteness.
The 35 children, making up the children’s choir, round out the performance nicely. Their most notable performance is as munchkins, when Dorothy first arrives in Oz.
With everything from the lollypop guild to the mayor and coroner pronouncing the Wicked Witch of the East as dead, the young performers keep up with the professional cast leaving the audience feeling carefree and mystified, as only munchkins can.
Theatregoers of all ages and interests are bound to enjoy this production. For a chance to learn how The Jitterbug fits into this classic story get tickets at www.dunfieldtheatrecambridge.com, in person at the theatre box office or by calling 519-621-8000 or 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
