BWW Reviews: Follow the Yellow Brick Road to THE WIZARD OF OZ
By: Amanda Finn Mar. 09, 2015
A mesmerizing cascade of light, fog, and draperies send audiences into the colorful Land of Oz at the Fireside Dinner Theatre. Without the sudden Technicolor shock that the film has to offer, the stage adaptation must always concoct a way to conjure their twister to transport their heroine into her fantastical imagination and - per usual - Ed Flesch and his highly capable cast and crew deliver.
Reimagining The Wizard of Oz, a film that won America's hearts after the book had done the same, can be a trying task. Audiences expect very particular performances to rekindle fond memories of Dorothy Gale and her companions. What this adaptation provides is both what onlookers expect, "Over the Rainbow" or "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead" for example, as well as quirky new jokes to keep the material fresh for the next generation of Ozians.
Josh Houghton as Scarecrow, and Darryl Winslow as Cowardly Lion.
Photo Provided by The Fireside Theatre
Traversing down the yellow brick road donning her iconic ruby slippers is Fireside newcomer Carly Hueston Amburn as Dorothy. Amburn's sweet demeanor radiated as brightly as her shoes to the nearly full house on Sunday evening. Without hesitation she was engulfed in the admiration of her audience. In a space with the cozy nature of The Fireside, her pleading glances and wavering vocals were enchanting. Though, every so often, on Sunday evening it was difficult to hear Amburn's lyrics over the music while at other times the ensemble was uncomfortably loud. Luckily, it seemed that Amburn may have been wise to the sound difficulty and picked up her volume whenever those lapses occurred.
Amburn's "little dog too" - Toto - also deserves kudos. Though I am not privy to the real name of the terrier playing Dorothy's best friend, that little pup is a heartbreaker. And clearly has the audience wrapped around its little paw since every kiss given to fellow cast members was met with a resounding 'aw'.
Though Dorothy and Toto are the most recognizable in this tale, one character that is forever burned into the minds of any Oz fan is the Cowardly Lion.
Bert Lahr's interpretation of Lion is what resonates with fans - the accent, the inflections, the mumblings, and the 'noive'. Lion's puppy-like manner is what charms his most devoted fans. Darryl Winslow as Fireside's Cowardly Lion is perfect. He embodies the character without just blatantly copying any of the predecessors. Winslow brings his own uniqueness to this meek, endearing fella and he is rewarded for it. He toes the line between sad clown and lovable oaf so well that one does not even realize that the line is there. Winslow is truly a "dandy lion."
Photo Provided by The Fireside Theatre
The stunning costumes brought together by Robin Buerger are what really bring the story to life. As if the residents of the different lands of Oz emerged from a Dr. Suess book, they each were brightly adorned with flowers or gizmos or retractable wings. These many remarkable costumes allowed each of the ensemble members to immerse themselves completely into each separate character they were tasked to play. Burdened with innumerous costume changes as well as quick makeup applications for several cast members, the costuming and makeup crew for this production deserve just as many accolades.
The Wizard of Oz is an American classic. Its tale of adventure, friendship, and knowing there is "no place like home" is bound to live on. With productions like the one that is currently running at The Fireside, however, it will not just simply live on. It will live on in all of its splendid Technicolor.
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