Andrew Lloyd Webber updates Wizard of Oz

Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre opened its 64th season this week with The Wizard of Oz.

The last time Starlight did The Wizard of Oz, if my memory is correct, it was a locally produced version, that then went on the road to one or two other regional theaters. This time it was a national touring show that includes new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

We went into it wondering  how well the new songs would fit in with the classics we know and love. Overall we were pleased.

The opening number was a new song, Nobody Understands Me. Personally I didn’t like the parts of it where Dorothy sang, but there were a lot of other effects worked into the song for everyone else, especially where we have the three farm workers introduced.

Each of the actors playing the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion each sang the traditional songs, but put the emphasis in different places. The real trick with a favorite is how do you make your mark, how do you make the role your own. If you don’t you just disappear into what people remember from the star who made the role. The Tin Woodman and Lion each tried something, but it didn’t really work for me. The Scarecrow gave his role a real zing; he was really memorable.  The only shortcoming was how his role was written.  They made him not very bright at the start, and they kept him not very bright. He really needed to be smarter than he thought he was, like the book, for the plot to work as intended.

The star who played Dorothy was very impressive, and displayed her singing pipes to good advantage in Over the Rainbow. I appreciated the number, but didn’t think her interpretation of the number — the classic of all classics for the show — was anything memorable in and of itself.

The roles of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda came out different than in the original. Both were refreshing, though I hankered for a little more of the original Glinda, while being quite impressed with the Wicked Witch.  Her portrayal was received so well that she got a very good applause — without any sort of boos — during the curtain call.

I cannot finish this review without a note for Toto.  The dog that played Toto was a perfect placement, and did his part superbly.