By SEAN BROWN
The Villa Playhouse Theater performed its version of “The Wizard of Oz” Saturday night.
The play brought to life childhood heroes such as Dorothy, Toto and the Scarecrow. The play, which was directed by Robin Boothe and written by L. Frank Baum, helped us remember the magic that we all imagined as children.
Booth did an excellent job at coordinating all the different elements of humor, suspense and drama into the show, making it entertaining for both young and old.
Although the show did drag in parts, the overall effect was positive as Dorothy chased her dreams down the yellow brick road.
Dorothy, played by Rebecca Law, seemed to overact the emotion in parts but did a good job considering she had to have a dog on stage through the whole show.
Excellent performances were turned in by the Scarecrow, played by Bradin Wilhelmsen; the Cowardly Lion, played by Don Green; and the Tinman, played by Matt Law. They all had strong voices and added good character to their parts.
The costumes weren’t Broadway but were quite impressive for a community theater production. Especially detailed and professional was the Tinman’s costume, as the clanking of the tin added a nice believable touch to the performance.
Glinda, the Good Witch of The North, was played by Alauna Tucker, who was difficult to hear in parts. The Wicked Witch of The West was played by Marni Ashby, who did a wonderful job. Her laugh and voice were perfectly evil.
Ashby was also in charge of directing more than 50 children in 80 different parts. The children were not only entertaining, but I was amazed at their ability to perform and dance. The choreography was creative, and the children did a great job at being right on cue.
The show was double cast except for the children. Even Toto was double cast.
The Villa Playhouse Theater added a nice touch. It is a beautiful old-fashioned theater with terraces, old seats and long, draping curtains.
Overall the play was worth watching and drew laughs as it brought back personal memories from experiences with “The Wizard of Oz.”
The Wizard of Oz plays Monday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Villa Playhouse Theater in Springville. For tickets call 489-3088.
