Opinion: Local production offers top-quality entertainment

When it comes to films, possibly none has been seen more times by more people than the 1939 classic, “The Wizard of Oz.” Besides its huge initial run on the big screen, it became a yearly staple when television finally became ubiquitous in the 1950s. Ironically, at that time TV was broadcast only in black and white so the transformation from Kansas to Oz wasn’t quite as impressive. The movie still plays regularly on TV.

“The Wizard of Oz” made Judy Garland a superstar, and the song “Over the Rainbow,” which was slated to be cut from the film, has become a standard. Garland’s version is the prototype, but even rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Gene Vincent (“Be Bop a Lula”) did an affecting rendition.

Even by today’s digital standards, the special effects hold up well. Every baby boomer surely had nightmares of the Wicked Witch, the Flying Monkeys and the lock-stepping Winkies.

The film was based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, who wrote 13 other novels in the series.

The task of translating such a rich fantasy – and such an oft seen one – to a “little theater” setting is a daunting one indeed, but Springfield Little Theatre has undertaken it, with enormous success.

Beth Domann, artistic director of SLT said, “It’s the most involved (SLT production) I have been affiliated with to date. It’s huge. It’s a monster. It’s got a huge cast. It’s got a lot of sets, a lot of costumes – and they’re very intricate costumes.”

Domann should know. Before becoming artistic director, she acted (and was always a standout) in dozens of SLT productions. She’s also directed musicals like “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music.” She also has taken on the sizable job of directing this production of “The Wizard of Oz” and is ably abetted by choreographer Lorianne Dunn and musical director Cynthia Lawrence. Getting a 70-plus member cast, which includes a large number of kids, to act, sing and dance – and do it all together – is no mean feat.

Set designer Chuck Rogers has devised a number of clever sets and Domann was right about the costumes, which were designed by Keith Rennaker.

The special effects are impressive as well. Under the guidance of the company ZFX Flies, there are several times when people on bicycles or brooms take off from the stage and travel through the air. A pair of winged monkeys takes flight and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, floats in at the appropriate moments. A farmhouse takes a spin in a tornado and the audience was wowed when it started snowing inside the Landers. Not on stage, mind you. On the audience.

I can’t think that anyone doesn’t know the story of “Oz,” so no need to belabor that point. Rather, I’ll focus on the performances.

The actors are all very good. Chris Knox as Scarecrow is obviously familiar with the material. He’s a fluid dancer and a fine singer, and he delivered his lines flawlessly.

Melissa Meyers as Dorothy probably had the hardest job, in trying to perform in the shadow of Judy Garland. Meyers’ voice is in a higher register than Garland’s but that doesn’t detract from her performance. She’s an accomplished dancer and actress as well.

Dawn McClain was sufficiently frightening as the Wicked Witch of the West and she sounded remarkably like Margaret Hamilton, who originated the role. She, like Kim Snyder as Glinda, had the added task of doing a number of scenes floating above the stage. In the only technical glitch of the evening, Ms. Snyder’s mic went out midway through her first scene. To her credit, she never missed a beat or gave a worried look.

A crowd favorite – judging by the applause at the curtain call – was Jeff Jenkins as Cowardly Lion. The Lion has always been the most comical of the characters and Jenkins, a founding member of Springfield’s Skinny Improv comedy troupe, is right at home in the role.

Oh, and the Munchkins. This group of 20 kids, some of them quite young, had the crowd tickled to laughter in their every scene. They sang with enthusiasm and danced like little pros.

A few of them doubled as Monkeys, some on roller skates, and Riley Cole and Jillian Mackey got to fly.

The impetus for the tale, the reason Dorothy wants to run away in the first place, is the threat to her dog Toto. Getting a dog to do what it’s told while people are dancing and singing around him can’t be easy. Toto here is played by Keiko Butts. Handled and trained by Debbie Butts and Dan and Valeri Wright, little Keiko was just great. When Toto pulled the hot dog off of Professor Marvel’s stick – just as happened in the film – the crowd applauded.

There’s a scene in this production that movie viewers won’t remember, as it was cut from the film. It’s a number featuring creatures known as Jitterbugs. They dance Dorothy and company to the point of weakness, setting up Dorothy’s being snatched by a Flying Monkey. Outside of that (which is good), all of the other musical numbers and scenes are like old friends.

“The Wizard of Oz” is truly something people of all ages can enjoy, and this production is top quality. Thankfully, the show has a fairly long run at The Landers. Upcoming performances are scheduled for Feb. 10–13 and Feb. 17–20.

For ticket information, call The Landers box office, (417) 869-1334.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.

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