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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Recreating ‘Oz’ Civic’s Stage Production Is An Ambitious Attempt To Recapture Magic Of The Classic Film

Unlike many of the great movie musicals, “The Wizard of Oz” did not begin as a stage musical.

In fact, it couldn’t have begun as a stage musical, at least not in 1939. Killer tornadoes, flying monkeys, talking trees, witches on broomsticks, witches in bubbles, and futuristic cities looming on the horizon - they could only have been made by movie magic.

Now, however, stage technology has caught up. In 1989, The Royal Shakespeare Company finally captured the music and the magic of the film version with an acclaimed stage adaptation. The RSC adapters knew exactly what audiences wanted: a live version of the movie, complete with the Harold Arlen-Yip Harburg songs, with as few changes as possible.

If you caught the touring version of the RSC adaptation at the Opera House four years ago, you’ll know that they succeeded.

Now, the Spokane Civic Theatre is doing its own version of the RSC adaptation, and the result promises to be equally satisfying. For one thing, it is the biggest production the Civic has ever attempted in terms of sheer logistics.

“We have had to add three staff members - two costumers and a stage carpenter,” said the Civic’s executive director, Jack Phillips.

For another thing, Peter Hardie, the Civic’s technical wizard, has been working behind the scenes - behind the curtain, as it were - to create some grand effects.

“The effects are just huge,” said Phillips. “There’s even a tornado moving across the stage.”

On the artistic side, the indications are also good. The director is Kathie Doyle-Lipe, who did such an exceptional job with last year’s “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The cast includes Juli Pritchard as Dorothy, Cameron Lewis as the Scarecrow, Kevin Partridge as the Tin Woodsman and Michael Hynes as the Cowardly Lion. Other cast members include Kelly Faulkner as Aunt Em and Glinda the Good Witch, Jhon Goodwin as Uncle Henry and the Emerald City guard, Keith Hill as the wizard and Professor Marvel and Jone Campbell Bryan as Almira Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West. There also will be plenty of Munchkins, Oz residents and other players, bringing the total cast to somewhere around 60.

And we can’t forget Toto, who will be played by Jeb, a graduate of The Family Dog finishing school.

This version will include all of the familiar songs, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” plus some that were deleted from the MGM movie, including the wonderful “The Jitterbug Song.” The musical director is Jeff Batdorf.

All in all, this adaptation is designed to capture the flavor not just of the movie but of L. Frank Baum’s classic book. And when Baum wrote it, all the way back at the turn of the century, he knew exactly what he was up to. Here’s what Baum himself said of the book’s appeal:

“There is no use of such trite fairy tale devices as genie, dwarf or ogre. No blood-curdling or disagreeable incidents occur. And no attempt is made to impress a moral on the child’s mind. ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is pure entertainment.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ON STAGE “The Wizard of Oz” opens Friday at the Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard, and continues Saturday and Oct. 3-4, 9-12, 15-19, 22-26, 30-31 and Nov. 1. Curtain time is 8 p.m., except Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $9 for students, available by calling 325-2507 or (800) 446-9576.

This sidebar appeared with the story: ON STAGE “The Wizard of Oz” opens Friday at the Spokane Civic Theatre, 1020 N. Howard, and continues Saturday and Oct. 3-4, 9-12, 15-19, 22-26, 30-31 and Nov. 1. Curtain time is 8 p.m., except Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $9 for students, available by calling 325-2507 or (800) 446-9576.