Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at Children's Theatre Company

A trip over the rainbow has become a tradition for many that has been passed down generation after generation. It is safe to say that almost everyone can recall when they first experienced the wonder and magic of L. Frank Baum’s enchanting and magical world of Oz. Whether it was viewing it annually on television or wearing out the family VHS tape (for those who are not old enough to know what that is, ask your parents), The Wizard of Oz has left its mark on all of us in one way or another.

When it was announced that Children’s Theatre Company was preparing to mount this classic story, there seemed to be one word that summed up the anticipation, electric. This feeling was especially felt as the audience poured into the auditorium to get seated for what was sure to be a spectacular night at the theater, and they would be right.

Children’s Theatre Company has brought Oz to life in vibrant Technicolor and it is a treat for the eyes and ears. Based on the historic 1939 MGM film of the same name, this stage production is essentially a copy paste of the screenplay of the film but that isn’t a negative in any way. By sticking to what worked so well back then and has endured over the years, the audience is able to fully sit back and enjoy the wonder and spectacle being presented.

From the moment the audience enters the space, they know exactly what they are in for. The classic sepia toned lighting provides that rush of nostalgia that they crave and when we travel to Oz we can’t help but be fully immersed in the colorful land of munchkins, witches, and talking creatures. As the show progresses, a very clear message is made, CTC’s design team is firing on all cylinders.

As the story is known to be full of magical and mystical moments, audience members will be hoping for some top-notch theatrics. Rest assured they are delivered, sometimes in very creative and inspired ways (no spoilers here). The creatives have definitely pulled out all the stops to deliver a mesmerizing and highly stimulating world for the characters to reside in.

CTC Artistic Director, Rick Dildine, has assembled a team of actors and crew that clearly love the piece with their whole hearts and it is evident in how much fun everyone seems to be having. The sheer joy that radiates from the cast is incredibly infectious and you will be hard pressed to find a single face without a smile in the auditorium, even those dads who were dragged there by their wives were having a blast.

Leading the big parade (on opening night) is Aniya Bostick who enchants the entire audience as Dorothy. Her ability to inject so much heart and soul into the role is remarkable, it is no wonder why the audience all but leapt out of their seats as she closed out her soaring rendition of Over the Rainbow. Never trying to be an imitation of the performance that was so iconically given by Minnesota native, Judy Garland, Bostick is singular in her portrayal.

Rounding out the Fab Four are three incredible veterans of the Twin Cities stage who bring so much wisdom, heart, and nerve to the roles of the Scarecrow (Dean Holt), the Tin Man (Regina Marie Williams), and the Cowardly Lion (Reed Sigmund), that we feel as if we are meeting them for the very first time. They provided all of the classic beats but inject their own flare which keeps the characters fresh.

Leaning into the extreme characterization of The Wicked Witch of the West, CTC company member Autumn Ness gives us just what we want: mean, green, and a taste of Margaret Hamilton. As the bar for the character is set so high, Ness never tries to exceed Hamilton’s iconic performance, instead she gives us enough of the original performance to be recognizable while adding her own flare.