If you’re looking for a family holiday classic that doesn’t include Christmas trees, reindeer or elves, head for the Warner Theatre, where a new British production of “The Wizard of Oz” has just opened.
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company of Great Britain, this production is very much a tribute to the grand 1939 MGM movie, thanks in large part to Tim McQuillen-Wright’s set. When Dorothy, Tinman, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow finally reach Oz, it’s a towering collection of film theaters. When Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, glides in from the sky on her silver disc, it’s embossed with gleaming old movie reels.
The large cast is impressive, from Dorothy (Cassie Okenka), whose voice is extremely pure and clear, to the youngest citizens of Munchkinland. Lion (Jason Simon) is delightfully silly in his cowardice. Scarecrow (Noah Aberlin) seems to be made of rubber and Tinman is hilariously clumsy in his metal skin. Caitlin Maloney embodies all the loveliness and beauty Dorothy associates with her Aunt Em, and the Wicked Witch of the West (Pat Sibley) gives new meaning to the concept of menace.
Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg’s music and lyrics are faithfully reproduced. But the feeling of the production seems contemporary given Leigh Constantine’s choreography, which is snappy and stylish throughout, especially in the numbers for the street-smart Crows, the sexy Apple Trees and the jiving Jitterbugs.
The look of the production, which includes a projection screen and sepia-toned images of a very scary tornado, is also very modern. Tim McQuillen’s whimsical costumes sizzle and surprise.
A word of caution: The sound is amplified, though not to ear-deafening pitch, and there are bright bursts of light and smoke on stage, which may be a problem for younger viewers. But ultimately, for most of the family, this “Wizard” is worth the visit, if only to see Toto (Snickers) act, never missing an entrance or cue. Like the rest of the cast, Snickers is a consummate professional, and seeing him is well worth the price of admission.
If you go
“The Wizard of Oz”
Where: Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW
When: 7:30 tonight and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday (run ends Sunday)
Info: $40; 202-397-7328; www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com
