Frank Baum, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Glinda the good witch (a cheeky Katrina Lauren McGraw) injects the production with some real effervescence, courtesy of a toy bubble gun that showers the audience in shimmering orbs that children of all ages can’t resist trying to burst.Īnd from a parental perspective, watching my tween act like a toddler was worth the price of admission. Still there’s something about unabashed silliness that’s hard to resist. The pacing is too pokey to accommodate the “Jitterbug” number in the second act. While the audience is frequently invited to participate in the action, by yelling boo or wildly waving a yellow napkin, the playfulness often feels less than infectious. The Cowardly Lion Costume Was Constructed From Actual Lion Hair. In other moments, however, the humans feel a little eclipsed by the shtick. But in 1939, when The Wizard of Oz was being filmed at MGM, the industry was a much more primitive place. He was best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker 'Zeke', in the MGM adaptation of The Wizard of Oz (1939). Review: ‘Tina Turner’ musical captures fierce spirit of iconic singer Irving Lahrheim (Aug December 4, 1967), known professionally as Bert Lahr, was an American stage and screen actor and comedian. LION : Well, I am a Lion, from an enchanted Forest in Oz. The real ingenuity here is delivered by David Zinn’s over-the-top scenic and costume elements, which often upstage the beloved characters, and even the classic Harold Arlen and E.Y. DOROTHY : Why there's nobody better with a gun in the world. Toto is a pink puppet pooch and the guard to Emerald City (El Beh) is sporting a fabulous green sequin mermaid-style gown under the old uniform. The Wicked Witch of the West (Courtney Walsh) is a corporate lawyer-type in a blue suit. The Scarecrow (Danny Scheie) is a crocheted Raggedy Ann-style moppet. In this Oz revamp, the girl in the blue gingham dress is transformed into a kiddo (Chanel Tilghman) in a Batman T-shirt and a hoodie. In the middle of the adventure, things tend to sag, particularly for some of the little ones in the audience. That heartwarming subtext and a whimsy-on-steroids vibe elevates this production, particularly at the beginning and end of Dorothy’s journey. In July 1938, MGM announced that they had tapped director Norman Taurog, who had a reputation of guiding young performers, to helm their upcoming film adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Welcome to Oz, this ACT production seems to say, no matter who you are, you will be celebrated here. Director and choreographer Sam Pinkleton’s wonderfully wacky “Wizard of Oz” is steeped in an ingenious mix of high camp and low-tech that revels in a distinctly San Francisco sense of aesthetics.Ĭertainly the staging’s gender fluidity is a nice wink to the culture wars raging across the country.
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