This spring, Sedro-Woolley High School Drama Club’s unique rendition of the Wizard of Oz delighted the audience with bubbly characters, colorful outfits, dazzling musical numbers and the sweet nostalgia of a familiar storyline.
The story follows a girl named Dorothy (senior Leah Litke) who encounters a dilemma when her dog, Toto, supposedly was chasing chickens in her neighbor Miss Elmira’s ( sophomore Luna Bickel-Schnuck) yard, and Dorothy’s guardian, Auntie Em, (senior Emma Sumner) agrees to let Elmira take Toto in order to avoid legal troubles.
Dorothy becomes distraught and soon after, a tornado hits Kansas, and whisks her away to a foreign land called Oz.
There she meets a “Good Witch” named Glinda (freshman Jackie Hankins), and the Munchkins, who rejoice as Dorothy’s dramatic arrival kills the Wicked Witch of the East. After being threatened by her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda informs Dorothy that the only way to return to Kansas is to “follow the yellow brick road.”
Along their path, she encounters a Scarecrow with no brain (junior Logan Ensley), a Tin Woodcutter with no heart, (junior Adriana Rodriguez) and a Lion with no courage (senior Mason Adams). As the four embark on a journey to the Emerald City, they confront the Wicked Witch of the West and her evil flying monkeys in their attempt to steal Dorothy’s ruby slippers.
After defeating their foes with the help of the fairies from Munchkinland, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodcutter and the Lion finally make their way to the Emerald City. When meeting the Wizard of Oz, (senior Oliver Estabrook) they realize that he is just a normal man that operates behind an intimidating display. The Scarecrow then realizes that he really has a brain, the Tin Woodcutter discovers that he has a heart, and the Lion unearths that he really does have courage. Finally, Glinda appears, and helps Dorothy return to Kansas.
The performances of the actors in this charming production were impressive. Starting with the family in the opening scene, Sumner, who plays Auntie Em, displayed a caring, motherly demeanor with the farm children, and the tension between her and Dorothy, (Litke) when Toto was taken away felt authentic.
Throughout her time in Oz, Dorothy’s mind would wander, and she would attempt to communicate with her sisters, who were either longing for her to come home or resented her for leaving. These brief interludes resulted in Dorothy’s understanding that she is loved by her family, and Litke did an amazing job of expressing her sorrow.
Another notable performance in the play was that of Hankins, who perfectly encapsulated Glinda the “Good Witch,” with a stunning pink gown, authentic voice, and an overall magical presence. Additionally, One of the most entertaining character duos in the production was the Wicked Witch of the West, (Cynthia Allen) and her henchman Obsidian, (sophomore Ayden Figueroa) who displayed a classic example of an evil antagonist with an eccentric side-kick.
This particular production got plenty of crowd reactions, especially during the scenes with singing and dancing, like when the munchkins were celebrating the death of the Wicked Witch of the East, or during the “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” sequence.
The script also included a lot of subtle, playful jokes that hit the audience without distracting from the central plot.
The most dramatic scene, prompting gasps from the crowd, was when the Wicked Witch of the West, Obsidian, and the flying monkeys attempted to attack Dorothy and her friends by swarming in from the upstairs entrance to the auditorium while making loud screeching noises.
The use of suspenseful sound effects during this scene and throughout the production definitely made it more amusing and theatrical.
Overall, the SWHS Drama Club’s take on “The Wizard of Oz” spotlighted not only the timeless charm of the beloved tale, but also the incredible talent and dedication of its young performers.
