Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre

What did our critic think of THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre?

By: Jun. 08, 2023
Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre

A.C.T.’s presentation of the RSC adaptation of the beloved Wizard of Oz becomes an ‘only in San Francisco’ event replete with transgender casting, double entendre readings of selected dialogue, eye-popping color, ingenious costuming and extremely creative set design and props.  Opening night incorporated the SF  Lesbian/Gay Freedom  Band and local legend Sister Roma adding specific local refences to the evening. While both the film and this staging center on the emotional themes of friendship, loyalty, and family, here the camp humor is off the charts.

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre
El Beh (Guard), Chanel Tilghman (Dorothy), Cathleen Riddley (Cowardly Lion), Danny Scheie (Scarecrow), and Darryl V. Jones (Tin Man)

The audience is primed beforehand to participate and did they ever- waving yellow bricks (napkins), singing along, and booing the villains en masse.  Actors appear all over the theatre, play multiple roles, and are gender fluid. The casting is well representative of the Bay Area with newcomer Chanel Tilghman as Dorothy, and award-winning Courtney Walsh as the Wicked Witch of the West. Professor Marvel/ The Wizard is a female and Toto is a cute mauve puppet.

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre
Danny Scheie (Scarecrow)

The first act is a hoot with many creative, laugh out loud moments; from the tornado (two giant fans, confetti and a flexible Twister game sheet), to the introductions of the Scarecrow (costumed as a 60’s Raggedy Ann doll), Lion (Cathleen Riddley in fur chaps) and Tinman (Darryl V. Jones looking like a silver Village People member), to the wild representation of Munchkinland and the Munchkins themselves (pairs of plastic eyes on inanimate objects). The set design is PeeWee Herman’s playhouse on acid, the costuming bold as a drag queen’s wildest dreams.

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre
(Top) Katrina Lauren McGraw (Glinda), (Bottom) Chanel Tilghman (Dorothy), and (Background) Beth Wilmurt

Act one has the most memorable numbers and is far stronger than the second which loses some comic steam. The principal performances are all strong with plenty of opportunities for scene-chewing performances. Danny Scheie’s Scarecrow gets the bulk of the snappy, sarcastic one-liners as well as the belly laughs. He barks out his lines with an accent of unknown origin in a measured meter to savor the line.  Courtney Walsh, recently seen working her comic skills in Clue, is, well, wicked.  Katrina Lauren McGraw’s Glinda shows disdain for ‘ugly witches’ and is a natural comic. El Beh and Ada Westfall shine as the Oz Guard and Professor Marvel respectively.

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at A.C.T. Geary Theatre
Chanel Tilghman (Dorothy) and Ada Westfall (Professor Marvel)

There’s additional background music added, and they did not need to re-introduce the Jitterbug number cut from the 1939 film. The second act plays out the drama and resolution but could not match the intensity and creativity of the first. Still, Wizard of Oz is so appropriate, this being Gay Pride Month in San Francisco. Taking a tongue in cheek twist on a beloved classic that wowed audiences with fantasy and color is certain to be a hit.

The Wizard of Oz continues through June 25th. Tickets are available now at the A.C.T. Box Office at (415) 749-2228 or online at act-sf.org.

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne




RELATED STORIES - San Francisco / Bay Area

1
Kronos Quartet and Ghost Train Orchestra Release SONGS AND SYMPHONIQUES: THE MUSIC OF MOON Photo
Kronos Quartet and Ghost Train Orchestra Release 'SONGS AND SYMPHONIQUES: THE MUSIC OF MOONDOG'

Kronos Quartet and Ghost Train Orchestra have released Songs And Symphoniques: The Music Of Moondog, a collaborative re-imagining of the music of Moondog out now through Cantaloupe Music.

2
CITIZEN By Greg Sarris to Open at Z Below in October Photo
CITIZEN By Greg Sarris to Open at Z Below in October

Directed by Gendell Hing-Hernández, CITIZEN opens on October 21. This Word for Word and Z Space production tells the tale of Salvador, born in the U.S. and raised in Mexico, the son of an American Indian mother and a Mexican father.

3
Eleven ICB Artists Selected For The Prestigious 2023 De Young Open Juried Community Art Ex Photo
Eleven ICB Artists Selected For The Prestigious 2023 De Young Open Juried Community Art Exhibition

Eleven ICB Artists Selected For The Prestigious 2023 de Young Open Juried Community Art Exhibition showcases the work of talented artists from the ICB community. Don't miss this exciting exhibition from September 30, 2023, to January 7, 2024.

4
Review: POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE at  Photo
Review: POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE at Berkeley Repertory Theatre

What did our critic think of POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIV at Berkeley Repertory Theatre?

From This Author - Steve Murray

Steve Murray is a writer for Cabaret Scenes magazine, contributor to ForAllEvents and now BroadwayWorld. He started writing rock reviews for his college newspaper in the 1970’s, produced a varie... Steve Murray">(read more about this author)

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Frozen
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (8/21-9/01)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Live At the Orinda - Geneviève Leclerc
Orinda Theatre (10/08-10/08)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Nutcracker
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts (12/08-12/10)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin in Cassette Roulette
Cal Performances' Zellerbach Hall (11/04-11/04)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Magician Jay Alexander
Marrakech Magic Theater (2/25-12/31)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Golden Gate Theatre (12/19-12/19)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Evolution of Hip Hop Dance
The American Theater Company (1/01-12/31)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Legend of Georgia McBride
Lesher Center for the Arts (11/04-11/26)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Dance Series 1
Cowell Theater (9/29-10/07)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Anthony Rapp's Without You
The Curran Theatre (10/19-10/22)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You