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'Wizard of Oz' a thrilling extravaganza
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August 3, 2012 |
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Isaac Ryckeghem as the Cowardly Lion,
Samantha Barradale as Dorothy Gale,
Kendra Urbaniak as the Scarecrow and
Sean Varelman as the Tinman. |
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By Mike Weland
The Bonners Ferry Summer Theatre performances of
"The Wizard of Oz" surpassed the expectations of
nearly everyone except for the cast and crew, who
put on an extravaganza Thursday and Friday
unlike anything ever staged in the Becker
Auditorium. The only thing wrong is that, while
the crowds were good, there were too many seats
unfilled.
There's one last chance to remedy that, as
there's one more performance at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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Aunt Em and
Henry Gale |
While they couldn't capture everything in the L.
Frank Baum movie classic ... no Miss Almira
Gultch riding her bicycle amid the aerial debris
of a Kansas tornado, for instance ... the talent
of the cast was enhanced by some brand new
special effects that awed the audience. You
could almost feel the thunder and lightning and
wind and hail of the storm; when the
pyrotechnics came into play the entire audience
gasped.
But it was the talented cast that made the show
a must-see. Samantha Barradale was perfect as
Dorothy, and Molly, playing Toto, almost stole
the show in her big scene early on.
Most of the roles were dual ones; Brook Wilson
played the role of the care worn Emily Gale,
better known to audiences as Aunt Em, then took
the stage moments later vibrant and regal as
Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.
Some members of the cast even took on three
roles.
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Miss Almira
Gultch and the long-suffering Henry Gale |
Linden Roop shone as Henry Gale and came on to
play one of the Emerald City guards. Three lunkheads, Zeke, Hickory and Hunk, played by
Isaac Ryckeghem, Sean Varelman and Kendra
Urbaniak, respectively, reappeared in completely
new guises as the Cowardly Lion, the Tinman and
the Scarecrow, and unless you read the program
or knew the cast, you'd not imagine they were the
same people.
While not quite so much a stretch, Brooklyn
Wilson plays a most convincing old snit, Miss
Almira Gultch, who attempts to take poor Toto to
the sheriff, then comes back as a ghastly Wicked
Witch of the West, playing the role so well even
the audience feared her!
The amazing Professor Chester Marvel, played by
Michael Brooks, returned as the great one
himself, the Wizard of Oz.
The large cast of Munchkins were delightful;
Asha Abubakari, Sulay Abubacary, Holly
Alexander, Jill Alexander, Allison Baird, Teigan
Banning, Marissa Beggerly, Lily Blackmore, Mia
Blackmore, Hailey Brooks, Reianna Brooks,
Cheyenne Cada, Mariah Cooper, Jamie Cromwell,
Taylor Cromwell, James Flory, Meggie Kahanek,
Adrianna Mangus, Shayla Poppino, Luke Smith,
Savannah Smith, Emma Watts, Leah Webster,
Mary-Elizabeth Wilson, Michaela Worley and
Michael Youngwirth; most of whom returned to the
stage as the denizens of Oz.
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| Things took
a terrible turn when Dorothy landed
somewhere over the rainbow, right atop
the Wicked Witch of the East. |
The murder of crows, played by Jill Alexander,
Emily Blackmore, Jaymi McGinn. Jessica Watts and
Haley Wenk, were cackling and comic, and the
enchanted trees, played by Lily Blackmore, Dusty
Bressie, Maggie McCoy, Ellie Rodgers, McKaela
Spradlin and Jesse Trocke, had their moments of
tormenting fun as well.
The poppies and snowflakes were played by Jill
Alexander, Emily Blackmore, Maggie McCoy, Jaymi
McGinn, Ellie Rodgers, McKaela Spradlin, Jessica
Watts and Haley Wenk; Meggie Kahanek and Maggie
McCoy came back as Emerald City guards; Reianna
Brooks, Jamie Cromwell, Michael Cromwell,
Jessica Watts, Haley Wenk and Michael Youngwirth
returned as Winkies and Teigan Banning, Marissa
Beggerly, Mia Blackmore, Taylor Cromwell, James
Flory, Meggie Kahanek and Mary-Elizabeth Wilson
were fearsome as the flying monkeys.
Helping from behind the scenes to bring it alive
were the stage crew; Dawn Carpenter, Caitlin
Alexander, David Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Alayna
Youngwirth and Amanda Pluid.
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Drothy Gale,
Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked
Witch of the West |
While the talent on stage was obvious, what most
didn't see was all the hard work and commitment
that went on for weeks; these kids were at
rehearsal five days a week for hours each day
working hard. Learning lines, choreography and
songs, stage sets, effects and so much more.
Kudos also go out to most of the parents as
well; not only did they take the kids to and
from rehearsal, many staying to help out, a
number of them helped build and paint the
elaborate sets and more.
No matter who you talk to, be it parents, cast
or crew, all agree that artistic director David
Carpenter, backed by director and choreographer
Charena Branscum and music director Sara Owinyo,
each pushed hard and demanded everyone's best,
but did so in a way that was appreciated.
It all showed when they took the stage for the
live performances, which brought the full range
of emotion, from fright to exuberance, the
production is meant to elicit.
If every seat isn't filled for the final
performance Saturday night, it's not the cast
and crew who'll be remiss, but the folks who
fail to fill the seats. You'll certainly be
hearing about it from those who did attend, and wonder why you didn't.
This production is truly that good.
Tickets for the final performance, taking place
at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Becker Auditorium at
the Bonners Ferry High School, are $8 for adults
and $5 for students and seniors, available at
the door, which opens at 6:30 p.m. Get there
early ... the seats are likely to fill up fast! |
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The
cute-as-button Munchkins welcome
Dorothy, glad that at least one Wicked
Witch is Dead. |
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But the
Wicked Witch of the West promises, with
a truly chilling and evil laugh,
to get vengeance. |
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But Glinda
has other ideas, giving Dorothy a
magical pair of ruby slippers, to the
Wicked Witch's chagrin, and sending her
on her way down the yellow brick
road and to the land of Oz. |
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Dorothy and
Toto say their goodbyes to their
Munchkin friends and set off ... |
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Where they
meet a Scarecrow needing brains ... |
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... And a
Tinman in a forest of enchanted trees
who needs a little oil ... and a heart. |
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The Wicked
Witch of the West tries to scare them out
of seeking the Wizard of Oz, but
undaunted, they continue on ... |
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... and meet
up with the final member of their band,
a cowardly lion, who just wishes for
some "noive."
Want to hear the rest? You'll have to
attend the final performance of "The
Wizard of Oz," presented by the Bonners
Ferry Summer Youth Theatre! |
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