Time to click your heels three times and head to Broadway Palm Dinner Theater with the kids to take a stroll down the yellow brick road.
Remember the journey we all took with Dorothy so many years ago? Now is your chance to do it in person and introduce the story to your children or grandchildren.
This stage performance is filled with comedy, music, and special effects. Now, more than eight decades later, the story still resonates and reminds us that there is no place like home.
There is no need to tell you that this is a story of a young girl who gets swept away in a tornado with her dog and whisked away in their home to the magical land of Oz where she encounters friends and enemies.
We begin with Dorothy, played magnificently by actress Sarah Cammarata, who portrays the innocence of the young girl from Kansas, as well as the feistiness to overcome her fears, and let’s not forget to mention her beautiful singing voice as she was spot on in “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Nik Olson is a brilliant scarecrow who uses all the physical comedy the role demands and nails the sweetness of the character.
Christopher Lewis is a splendid Tin Man and pulls off some great tap dancing in the show.
However, it’s Actor Victor Legarreta who commands the stage in her performance as the Cowardly Lion. Legarreta clearly understands the expectation of his character while delivering all of the familiar traits Burt Lahr established in the film. But Legarreta courageously creates his own successful and unique rendition of the loveable lion.
I loved Melissa Whitworth’s Miss Gulch and Wicked Witch performance as she limps on stage using a cane in her first appearance rather than the traditional bicycle. While she bravely flies across the stage on a magic broom in an effort to ultimately snatch the ruby slippers from Dorothy, my only suggestion is she might be a bit more scary and evil like her protege Margaret Hamilton. A bit of trivia here as some of Hamilton’s scenes from the movie had to be cut because at the time they were considered too scary for children.
Actress Kate Stenzel plays double duty in the show as Aunt Em, a role she is clearly too young for however it is her performance of Glinda that the audience falls in love with. The beauty in pink delivers every line with the smiles and pleasantries the role is known for even when she is suspended 15 feet in the air floating onto the stage in a pink bubble.
Another character who understands the demand of his role is the beloved Professor Marvel and The Wizard of Oz himself played precisely by actor Paul Bernier, another Broadway Palm veteran who convincingly portrays the well-meaning charlatan.
I can not overlook the orchestra complete with keyboards, trumpet, trombone, drums, and percussion and the show notably is directed and choreographed by Amy McCleary who does an elaborate job of keeping all of the “little people” and flying monkeys in the show on their toes. The special effects were also appreciated to give the show that over-the-top feel.
There are also two dogs who play Toto. I had the privilege of seeing Fergus Bigelow steal the hearts of the audience. Leah Weaver is the understudy pooch for the role.
After reading this, I hope you’re “Off To See The Wizard” which runs through August 13. Children 18 and under are just $25 for dinner and the show. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 239-279-4422.
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