By: Joseph Szalinski
Raid your older sibling’s stash and cue up Dark Side of the Moon, because we’re returning to the merry old land of Oz in The Rage of the Stage Players’ production of Dorothy in Oz, written and directed by James Michael Shoberg, now running at the Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center in Bellevue, PA.
Originally staged by The Rage of the Stage Players in 2009, followed by a revival in 2011, this production takes advantage of some wickedly awesome timing for its current run. Inspired by the classic MGM film, the books by L. Frank Baum, and the wealth of related media, Dorothy in Oz offers up a unique twist on a familiar favorite, minus the Munchkin you swear you saw swingin’ in the background. Littered with references you’d only catch on your third viewing, this play is best enjoyed by those who have visited the Emerald City regularly, but can be enjoyed by the whole family, and your little dog too!
Shoberg’s passion for the source material, and for the written word, manifests itself in the form of a solid script that enables this show to stand out. Clever dialogue, creative allusions, kooky characters, and heaps of humor help make this an engaging piece of theatre from start to finish. Story beats and plotlines are similar enough to the original film that audiences are easily able to immerse themselves in the world on stage, while also getting a new narrative to watch unfold. Tight and polished, this production flies by amidst a soundtrack of chuckles.
Assisting Shoberg in executing his vision is a great and powerful cast who is unafraid to commit to the insanity of the story. Chelsey Gooch is magnificent as Dottie, the mentally ill protagonist who’s forced to take more meds than Judy Garland. She is aided in her journey by Mrs. Goode/Glinda, played by the hilarious Carrie L. Shoberg, in addition to three stooges with amazing chemistry. Luke Frederick throws himself into his role as Skarekrow, not to be confused with Lord Infamous from Three 6 Mafia, an edgy musician who is the second most doped up strawman next to Michael Jackson. Rusty finds his heart thanks to Mike Psenick, who has an easier time with his iteration of the hatchet-wielding hero than Buddy Ebsen had with his. Bill Herring is enjoyably skeevy as Mr. Lyons, a dude who most certainly has some hairy palms, especially with how he works in the Winkies’ iconic chant.
Jen James exorcises the pearl from the liver with her performance as Dr. Green/Wicked Witch of the West Wing. A medical professional with a lot of sympathy, just not for her patients. A fascist in the west wing…huh…I think I’ve seen that somewhere before…Making up the Witch’s gaggle of miserable creatures are Jamez Draconis II, Anthony Babeaux, and Justin Havens as Swish, Twitch, and Grunt, respectively.
Matthew Grimm is terrific as The Great Oz/Dr. Ozlin, giving a powerful performance when communicating through a digital avatar. Completing the in-person cast is Lily V. Sixx as Ms. Gates and Linda Baker as Aunt Em. For long time fans of Rage of the Stage, Ryan Ott entertains as the voice on hospital intercom.
Equaled by the cast’s talent is the technical prowess of the crew. Wait until you see the end credits. Technical director, Dylan Baker, handles lighting design while sound design is handled by Anthony Logreco. Original music is composed by Andrew Lasswell, a smart move considering covering “Over the Rainbow” didn’t really turn out well for IZ. Rachel Roach wears more hats than Bartholomew Cubbins, serving as assistant director, board operator, scenic artist, set designer, and stage manager. Assistant stage manager, Diana Smith, shares hair/makeup/special effects duties with Chloe Mackay, Lily V. Sixx, and Brittany Spinelli. Other performers to moonlight behind the scenes are Jen James and Carrie Shoberg as set decorators, with the latter further blurring the line between cast and crew by overseeing props and costume design, complemented by Kaitlyn Alyce’s seamless job as seamstress. Elizabeth Marie Murphy, the sole member of the production’s run crew, does a formidable job of navigating the backstage chaos. James Michael Shoberg goes beyond his role of playwright/director by being involved with the show’s marketing alongside David L. Wooddell, producing the show with Carrie L . Shoberg, and working on the graphic design with Joseph Stammerjohn. Damien Worm has concocted awesome poster artwork and Skylar Walton has expertly crafted additional production artwork. Forrest Cook lends a trained eye to the show’s photography and videography. Dawn D. Anderson, Peter Anthony Vetrini, Stephanie Cook constitute the house managers, a dedicated group of Shoberg devotees who cycle in and out with each production.
Bellevue is blessed to have the Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center as part of the borough. It is a wonderful venue that has been home to scores of fantastic productions since its opening. Between being the homebase for The Pittsburgh Savoyards, as well as a hub for local art and culture, the space has become positioned as an indispensable element of the scene. The “North Boros” are experiencing a renaissance of sorts, and Bellevue is at the epicenter. One can only hope that the MPPAC gets to share in those spoils as well.
The Rage of the Stage Players have been terrorizing tiny towns for 24 seasons and don’t show any signs of slowing down. In an era plagued by a collective waning interest in doing anything, it’s refreshing to see a group of people so motivated to share stuff they love. Theatre is a multifaceted artform that allows for the tried and true to stay eternally relevant, or permits a bit of experimentation, and Rage is luckily of the latter. Their original shows, whether seriously disturbing or disturbingly funny, are tremendous feats of theatre that have entertained audiences around the world. Pittsburgh is incredibly fortunate to host them and their unusual body of work. Whatever they end up doing next will certainly be spectacular.
-JS
Dorothy in Oz continues its run August 7th, 8th, 9th, 14th, and 15th at 8 pm, with a special 2 pm matinee performance followed by a talkback with the cast and the playwright on Sunday, August 10th at the Margaret Partee Performing Arts Center in Bellevue, PA. Tickets can be found here.
