The Wizard of Oz at the Academy Theatre
I Don’t Think We’re in Meadville, Anymore, Toto
A Dance Review
If ever a book-to-movie treatment deserved a left-turn transformation into a dance recital, it has to be The Wizard of Oz.
With its fantastical tale, imagery of far-off lands and colorful characters, you know it’s going to pop. Also, strip away dialogue and replace it with only movement to tell its tale and I’m definitely in the front row, not the balcony this time (Sorry, guys.)
Presented at Meadville’s Academy Theatre, the Oil Region Ballet Company gave audiences a two-hour trek to the Emerald City March 7th and 8th.
Has anyone not heard of The Wizard of Oz, the L. Frank Baum children’s book that became the milestone 1939 movie starring Judy Garland? Okay, here goes, anyway:Dorothy and her dog, Toto, via cyclone, are transported to the magical Land of Oz. Here Dorothy makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man, who have their own problems.
Traveling together to the Emerald City to meet the all-knowing Wizard of Oz, they hope he’ll help each of them(Dorothy’s is to get back to Kansas.Don’t ask me why.) But first they have to get past the Wicked Witch of the West, who hampers Dorothy almost every step of the way for accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East”and gaining herself some snazzy ruby slippers.
The two-act show featured approximately 30 dancers performing multiple roles (angry bees, dreadful crows, Ozians and Winkie soldiers, et al.), all set to the classical music of Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov and others.
While I only learned of Oz the first day of its two-day run, I was pleasantly surprised to see most of the first-level seats filled for the Saturday matinee. Apparently people are more tuned in than Iam. (Shame on you, GURU!)
Now oftentimes the backstage staff doesn’t get enough love for their contributions. Not in this column! Big shout out to artistic director Deborah Femovich for overseeing the charming production.
Give some post-applause to choreographers Megan Davis, Sylvia Cagle, Victoria Stachelrodt and Femovich (again) for their imaginative interpretation of the Oz production, demonstrating their ability to tell a story with only graceful movements and pantomime.
Finally, gotta give some sugar to Costumer Designer Femovich (yet again!) and Costume Mistress Tina Borger for the inventive garments: From the adorable baby chick costumes seen at Uncle Henry and Aunt Em’s farm, to the vibrant electric blue costumes of the funky-looking flying monkeys.
Though the story onstage differed from what I remember of the movie”[SPOILER ALERT, REALLY? PART 1]–the Wicked Witch died early on in the second act.
And what was occurring afterwards until–[SPOILER ALERT, REALLY? PART 2]–Dorothy makes it back home, left this gal scratching her hair-don’t.
I’d like to give performing credit where it’s due, but some roles were apparently played by two different dancers at different performances. I’m unclear who danced during the Saturday matinee, though I’ll credit both: Molly Carswell and Marley Plowman as Dorothy, Christopher Warner and Madolyn Williams as the Scarecrow. Plowman (again) as Toto, Cole Devine as the Tinman and Ethan Baker as the Cowardly Lion, round out the lead characters, though the entire cast should be congratulated.
Which raises a question: Does Erie have any active dance companies?
Sadly, Google indicates no.
Nonetheless, let’s count our blessings that the Franklin-based Oil Region Ballet Company (in Venango County), shares their talent with the dance-loving deprived populace of Northwestern Pennsylvania!
See you in the balcony!
XOXO
****Thea Tah
For more information about Oil Region Ballet Company please visit www.oilregionballet.org.For more information about the Academy Theatre visit theacademytheatre.org
