New Candlelight enchants with OZ

When Dorothy Gale entered Oz, Judy Garland entered immortality. The movie has been seen by almost every child who has seen a movie. Judy will live forever in our hearts. ‘Rainbow’ is the most popular song ever; a mystical, lyrical and melodic story of a child’s spiritual passage from adolescence to adulthood.
“The Wizard of Oz” speaks to our feelings, not our intellect. It comforts and inspires. Children identify with Dorothy with their fears; adults identify with their dreams. She teaches all of us that we can confront our threats – real or imagined - and determine our own future.
And there were several moments during New Candlelight's staging of “Wizard” that rouse the very emotions that spring forth when we watch the iconic movie.
The first came with Dorothy's (Erica Scanlon Harr) “Rainbow”. She wisely did not attempt to mimic “Judy” (who can?) but sang with the sweet and delicate innocence of her character.
The second moment came with the entrance of the Munchkins. There was a collective and involuntary “Ahhhhh” pulsing through the audience owing not only to their overwhelming cuteness but also to the masterful costume design of Timothy Lamont Cannon. Some of the Munchkins were adult (petite ones at that) and some were kids. The wigs on the latter were hysterical.
A third moment was the appearance of Toto. Sadly, this very small actor was not credited in the program (How could they do that in his first stage show?) Aisle Say believes him to be a real dog and a Yorkie at that.
The server at the table I shared with my dear sister Liz and new found friends from Elkton was dance Captain Alexis DeDonato; an extremely versatile actor who has appeared in the last several shows. Another facet of her talent was revealed as The Mayor of Munchkinland. She obviously worked hard on the characterization and her voice sounded as if it was generated through a synthesizer.
One of the challenges that director Sonny Leo and Three Bakers music director veteran Jim Weber faced was the strong association we all have with the Lion, Woodsman and Scarecrow. They are tough acts to follow down the Yellow Brick Road. Was there a more limber dancer than Ray Bolger? We laughed til we cried at his pratfalls. Well, Sonny may have found him in Scarecrow (David McConney). The actor has a very strong voice and was ever consistent in that gangly manner of walking and dancing.
The spinster we love to hate Miss Gulch/WW of West (Marie Howey) spate out her diatribes to the foursome along their golden path as if she were burning at the stake (which is kind of how she ended up). Her body movements accentuated the crankiness of her personality. Being mean is a blast. I can imagine five year old Munchkin Thomas Stinson steers a wide path around her backstage.
A fourth moment was the image of the wizard himself. I credit the leadership of NCT with the tough financial decision to commission Hob Hollow Studios to create this fanciful and wondrous puppet head with a mouth that moved. Huzzahs!
Sonny also choreographed. The main number was the “Jitterbug”. While the costumes were bee-utiful, Aisle Say has also questioned the relevance of the number to the progress of the plot.
Great theatrical value – dinner and theatre for $55.00 per!
Til August 29. Groups welcomed NewCandlelightTheatre.com 302.475.2313
The company also offers periodic Comedy Nights. See the web site.
Aisle Say has not seen the critic for the other statewide newspaper at various events lately and his byline is not appearing. The performing arts need exposure to survive.

Media Theatre's Oz is a pot of gold

When Dorothy Gale entered Oz, Judy Garland entered immortality. The movie has been seen by almost every child in the world who has seen a movie. “Rainbow” is the most popular tune ever; a mystical, lyrical and melodic story of a child's spiritual passage from adolescence to adulthood.

The professional cast of The Media Theatre created and evidenced the same love for their characters in this stage production as the iconic film actors did in 1939.
The theatre on Media's main drag is a renovated cinema not unlike The Grand. It was but twenty-five minutes from my home in Brandywine Hundred and most certainly worth the trip.

I attended with my college senior son Grant and elbowed him hard during the “Lollipop Kids” number, portrayed by a gaggle of beaming kids whose delight with being on stage was palpable. Grant had played one of those attitudinal rapscallions when in third grade.
With these characters so imprinted in us, it's a difficult task for the actors not to fall into caricature. All of the major players are Equity actors and have impressive credits, including the prestigious Walnut Theatre and The Prince in Philly. Media actors and productions have won “Barrymores,” the regional Tony's, on many occasions.
With the first four notes of “Rainbow's” lead in out of her mouth, it was evident that Dorothy (Kim Carson) would be an aural delicacy. As Judy preached herself, Carson made the lyrics her own.
Judy was 4'11”. Carson is a tall woman, but this does not seem to matter vis a vis her wide-eyed innocence in this “childlike” role. Her interaction with her compadres down the Yellow Brick Road was delightful. As I surveyed the audience, all had plastered smiles that could not be shaken.
Scarecrow (John Jarboe), Cowardly Lion (Daniel Stanton) and Tin Man (Patrick Ludt) are superior singers and dancers. Ludt, in fact, did a tap dance turn as the Tin Man to great effect. One has great expectations on the entrance of the Lion and that first “put 'em up, put 'em up” monologue. Stanton had the audience doubled over.
Wicked Witch (Kathryn Kendall) was over archingly-nefarious. Her 'dissolution” by Dorothy's pail of water was a clever special effect.
Jitterbug (Joey Tierno) is a recent college grad with a minor in dance. On this night, however, he majored in flips, tricks and leaving the ground for extended periods.
In the program even Toto (Ziva Larsen) had a bio. He most certainly is one of the most laid back Cairn Terriers in stage history, or else on xanax. He is on the majority of the time, is tossed back and forth and nary says a peep (or bark).
Director Peter Reynolds, who serves as director of musical theatre at Temple, did a fluid job with his ensemble cast. The action was forever brisk.
“The Wizard of Oz” speaks to your feelings, not your intellect. It comforts and inspires. Children identify Dorothy with their fears; adults identify with their dreams.
A poor little girl is sent down a perilous path. Along the way she must slay wicked witches and stand up to mighty wizards. We are made to see all the fantastic adventures through Dorothy’s wide and trusting eyes. She makes the unbelievable believable.., the unreal real.

This is a wonderful production for the entire family. Tix are very reasonable.
MediaTheatre.org 610.891.0100