Go See the Wizard of Oz Tour!
Here was a review I found online. I personally do not like the review and want only good press for shows these days. The theatre needs an audience and deserves it gosh darn it:
This Wizard of Oz hasn’t decided whether it’s a Broadway musical (truth to tell, it’s never been near Broadway) or a children’s show (the cast uses more than a dozen local “Munchkins”). But it’s marketed as the former, and tickets (as much as $65) are priced just like other Broadway Across America shows at the Aronoff. This Wizard is too familiar for most adults and way too long for kids.
The charming source material provides occasionally entertaining moments, including a scary depiction of the storm with the farmhouse swirling away to Oz. This is a non-Equity tour (the performers are not members of the professional actors union). As Dorothy, Cassie Okenka is just adequate, but her companions — Noah Aberlin as the loose-limbed Scarecrow, Chris Kind as the clanking Tinman and Jason Simon as the Cowardly Lion — truly remind us of their familiar characters.
The farmhands have coy lines (about intelligence, soul and bravery) in the opening scene to nudge us regarding characters they’ll soon play. We’re offered a few references to current Broadway hits, like Lion King. But most of this show is a soulless hodge-podge that needs to be shortened.
Some kids on opening night enjoyed The Wizard of Oz with wide-eyed wonder. But just as many talked, fussed and whined, especially as 10 p.m. came and went. I’m not sure whom this show was intended to please.
