If you’re looking for a memorable and fun family outing to celebrate the holiday season, then be sure to catch Alberta Theatre Projects inventive and highly entertaining production of The Wizard of Oz.
This is the stage musical based on the 1939 film starring Judy Garland which was based on the books by L. Frank Baum. Few films imbed themselves as deeply into the culture as The Wizard of Oz has and so many people have an affection and love for the story, the characters, and the music.
The amazing thing about this story is just how many of the characters we know and remember. Often in a movie you’ll have the lead character and maybe another character or two who really define the story and become part of the culture. But in The Wizard of Oz every character adds something powerful to the journey. The Tinman, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow, The Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch of the North, The Wizard of Oz, and Dorthy are all vivid in our minds and our memories.
Oh, and Toto. You can’t forget Toto.
All of these characters are relatable. Why? Because they’re flawed. I mean who hasn’t felt stupid or scared. Who hasn’t wanted to run away from home when life gets hard. And then there are the songs. Fun. Joyful. Happy. Sing along songs like We’re Off to See the Wizard or Somewhere Over the Rainbow that not only entertain but speak deeply to the heart of every soul who has ever spent time with their kids or their parents or grandparents watching this magical story unfold.
And so, I’m happy to report that director Tracey Power has captured some of that magic by assembling a terrific cast that embodies the spirit of the story and has the theatrical expertise and singing skills to bring The Wizard of Oz to life.
The story for those that don’t know is about a young girl named Dorothy who along with her dog Toto runs away from home and finds herself in the magical kingdom of Oz. There she teams up with the Tinman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion as they travel to the Emerald City to ask the Great and Powerful Wizard of OZ for help, all while being relentlessly pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West.
I would suggest that more than the books the iconic performances of the actors in the original film define what we expect when we see a stage production of the show. The trick for any actor is to honour the original performance while bringing something fresh and exciting to the role and the entire cast does exactly this. They feel familiar yet original. And by doing so we see a show we love but with a new energy and a different dimension because every actor brings to every character they play a bit of their own soul and emotional understanding of the world.
Hannah Adamson takes on the role of Dorothy Gale and does an admirable job bringing a youthful enthusiasm and resilient determined spirit to the role. Joining Dorothy on her journey is the kind-hearted and caring Scarecrow played with a childish innocence and an astonishingly high degree of physical flexibility by Ryan Maschke. Jason Lemmon plays the prone to tears tin man as compassionate and brave, despite his fears and insecurities.
Returning to the stage to reprise his role as the Cowardly Lion having previously played the part at ATP is Kevin Corey easily one of the best physical comedians working on the Calgary Stage. Corey’s portrayal has the right balance of comic exaggeration and genuine emotion which makes his Cowardly Lion both funny and endearing.
Playing the Wicked Witch of the West Daniela Vlaskalic brings a cackling and menacing presence to the role and does a great job playing the villain of the story. Jessica Jones as Glinda the Good Witch of the North is the perfect counterbalance to Vlaskalic’s Wicked Witch of the West. Jones radiates goodness and has a carefree nature about her that fits perfectly as she guides Dorthy on her journey and steps in at key moments.
Brent Gill who plays the Emerald City Guard (who in the movie has always reminded me of a deranged Gene Shalit) brings a fun mix of bureaucratic bluster and comedic self importance to his role. And last but not least Christopher Hunt does a wonderful job of playing the Wizard of Oz as both the loveable conman with a heart of gold he is while pretending to be the Great and Powerful Wizard who strikes fear in all those who dare seek him out.
Not only has director Tracey Powers done an excellent job of casting and directing the show but she’s assembled a strong design team including set, lighting, and props designer Narda McCarroll, costume designer Ralamy Kneeshaw, sound designer and keyboard #2 Van Wilmott, and Musical Director and Keyboard #1 Joe Slabe.
The production features live music which always enhances the production and adds an element of live performance that brings a vibrant feel to any musical. The sets are all made of things like umbrellas and plates and bottles and bicycle wheels and old jeans and tin cans that have been transformed into trees and forests and hills that anchor the play in the plains of Kansas and the magical land of Oz. Which leans into the theatricality of the show and the magic of theatre all of which make the production a visual treat and something more than simply replicating the movie.
Bottom line this is a fine production. It’s entertaining and inventive. The Wizard of Oz at Alberta Theatre Projects is a magical and family-friendly holiday production that brings this much-loved story and characters to life on stage. Tracey Powers has brought together a talented cast and show with design elements crafted from recycled materials, while featuring live musical elements that manages to capture the spirit of the original movie while creating a fresh theatrical experience for everyone to enjoy.
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The Wizard of Oz runs until January 4th at Alberta Theatre Projects. Please note evening performances from Tuesday to Saturday have family friendly start times of either 7:00 pm or 7:30 pm depending on the date of the performance. Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at albertatheatreprojects.com or by calling the box office at 403-294-7402
