What if Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion were hobos who constantly hopped trains in search of a better life?
That is the fascinating take that director Jonel Langenfeld brings to Oswego State’s “The Wizard of Oz.”
Taking place in the contemporary Midwest along the train tracks to good fortune, “Oz” takes these classic characters and views them with a slightly different lens. The story remains the traditional “tornado sweeps farm girl to magical land of shoe-stealing witches,” but the atmosphere is definitely distinct from any interpretation audiences have seen before. From the costume choices, to the set pieces and backdrops, the themes of self-discovery and maturity run through every imaginative aspect of the production.
Some truly wonderful performances enchant this play, led by Megan VanVorce as the girl-next-door Dorothy, opposite Alex Matsu as scenery-chewing, meaning “acting overly exaggerated,” Wicked Witch of the West. VanVorce has a natural charm and fantastic voice that immediately endears audiences to her farm girl persona, and her little dog too. Matsu seems to be having the time of her life as the Wicked Witch and it certainly comes through in her cackling laugh and sinister sneer. Both of these young women lend a great deal of talent and presence to a delightful ensemble.
The rest of Dorothy’s troupe of traveling hobos, the paper-filled Scarecrow, the self-destructive Tin Man and the boastful Cowardly Lion played by Anthony Sagrestano, Seth Prevatil and Dwan Hameed respectively, do a great job supporting the heroine on her journey. Each tackle their own song and dance numbers with unique flare and style. Perhaps the funniest of the bunch is Hameed’s Lion with loads of jokes both old and new.
Hameed’s humor is rivaled only by an ensemble of children taking a turn as the Munchkins. Both hilarious and adorable, these young child actors may just be on the path to stardom if they continue in the arts.
This particular take on “Oz” aims to shake up the classic tale with new writing and costumes, such as Dorothy’s ruby red boots and the industrial motif throughout with trains and factories helping to convey the train hopping themes. Most characters sport cool steampunk goggles to add to the quasi-industrial era Oz. It is little details like these that make this version of “Oz” feel unique and fun.
In addition to those subtle touches, there is also the more obvious dance choreography and orchestral accompaniment that stand out. It is evident that a lot of time and practice went into this production both onstage and off.
Lastly, special acknowledgement has to be made to the backstage crew for a fantastic job with lighting, sound design, scenery construction and special effects. Specifically, rolling train cars replace enchanted castles of old and illuminated train tracks stand in for the standard yellow brick road. All these elements meld together to form a fully magical world that transports the audience to another time and place, complete with an onstage tornado.
Oswego State’s “The Wizard of Oz” is a wonderfully fun, superbly acted, skillfully directed production.
Haven’t already seen it? Hurry down the yellow brick road and get some tickets now. Wait any longer and even the Wizard will not be able to help buyers get into this extraordinary show that is selling out fast.
