Storybook Musical Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz

Theater: Storybook Musical Theatre
Show Title: The Wizard of Oz
Opened: November 26, 2007
Seen: December 17, 2007
Reviewer: Ryan Bunch
Submitted: December 20, 2007

I had a flashback while attending Storybook Musical Theatre’s enjoyable production of The Wizard of Oz.

When I was in school, I did an oral book report on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. My classmates listened patiently—and perhaps with some puzzlement—while I recounted a story that included silver shoes, the Queen of the Field Mice, and a Wizard who appeared to Dorothy and her friends not only as a giant head, but also as a lovely lady, a ball of fire, and a beast with many eyes. Everything seemed to be going fine until I got to the part where the Wicked Witch of the West managed to get hold of one of Dorothy’s silver shoes, and Dorothy retaliated by throwing a bucket of water on the Witch causing her to melt. At this point, one boy could no longer contain himself. “That’s not right!” he protested. “That’s not how it happened! The Scarecrow was on fire, she was trying to put him out!” I could barely get through the rest of my report over objections to the version of events I was giving.

The lesson I learned that day is that everybody has their own very clear ideas about the details of this pervasive American fairy tale, and whether you follow the book or the movie, somebody is going to criticize you for getting it wrong. Awareness of this fact must have weighed heavily on the mind of artistic director and book writer Patricia Goldberg when she created this musical stage adaptation for young audiences.

There is something to be said for both “authenticity” on the one hand and the pleasure of hearing a familiar story on the other. This version of Oz gratifies the latter impulse for the majority of young people—those who are familiar with the The Wizard of Oz through the movie rather than the book. In fact, it is so influenced by the cinematic narrative that it comes complete with ruby slippers, farmhands, and a dog-hating neighbor named Ms. Glitch.

This MGM-centric approach to the story is most satisfying to any adults in the room when executed with a wink and a nudge to an audience bound to recognize the references. A musical joke in the song that stands in for “Over the Rainbow” is worth the price of admission for quoting the famous octave interval from the classic song, setting up an expectation it promptly defies—all while staying carefully within the legal 4-note allowance when borrowing from a copyrighted piece of music. Many of the lines in the script are barely paraphrased from the movie; I found myself making a mental matching game, connecting dots from what I was hearing in the theater to the analogous speech in the movie. (Re Toto: “He’s only a menace to those who menace him”=“He’s very gentle. With gentle people, that is.”)

The bulk of the humor, though, is appropriately aimed at the lower elementary age group primarily in attendance. There is much silliness and slapstick, a good deal of it assigned naturally to the neurotic Cowardly Lion, played by Jason Micheal, who gets to scream, squeal, leap, quip, and quake in his boots throughout the show. To his credit, Michael manages to do all this without effecting a complete imitation of Bert Lahr’s performance from the movie.

The rest of the cast live up to expectations, too. Aileen Goldberg is a wide-eyed and sincere Dorothy, but not cartoonishly so. The Scarecrow (Bill Fitzpatrick) and Tinman (Jeff Reim) are similarly brainy and sentimental without descending into caricature. The Good Witch (Alisa Stamps) is bewitching and the Bad Witch (Faith Sherman) is just plain witchy. David Mulholland is a likeable and gentlemanly Wizard.

The songs by Kevin Arruda are catchy, tuneful and appealing, with lyrics that are both smart and direct. There are touches of irony too, such as when the Bad Witch sings about how wicked she is to unabashedly upbeat and optimistic music. The musical numbers do much to set the tone and style of the production, along with the flat painted scenery which reinforces the storybook style.

And don’t worry. Baum is not completely neglected. In her director’s note, Goldberg pays tribute to the importance of the book while addressing her decision draw inspiration from the movie. The study guide for the show, along with games, puzzles and plot synopsis, includes suggested activities and discussion questions meant draw attention to differences between the original story and the MGM-influenced one. Young theater goers who have been prepped will have the opportunity to appreciate how stories change and adapt while passing from one storyteller to the next.

The Wizard of Oz runs through December 30 at Mitchell Performing Arts Center in Bryn Athyn and through January 12 At Bluett Theater at St. Joseph’s University. For tickets and information, call 215-659-8550 or visit www.storybookmusical.org.

Ryan Bunch is a vocal instructor, writer and composer specializing in musical theater and theater for young audiences. He has provided voice training, musical direction, songwriting, script development and educational services for the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Mainstage Center for the Arts, Center Stage Productions, Chichester School District, West Chester Summer Stage, Renaissance Artist Puppet Company, and the Players Board of Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School. For additional information visit www.ryanbunch.com.