Behind the curtain: The Wizard of Oz to shine at Academy Theatre

Local citizens were in for a real treat when The Wizard of Oz went up on the big screen at the Kent Theatre from Nov. 21 through 25, 1939. Patrons entering this 296-seat cinema at 12 Lindsay Street South would have been spellbound by the landmark Metro-Goldwyn Mayer film, released only a few months before, which transported them into a land of Technicolor-infused fantasy. The adventures of Dorothy Gale and her anthropomorphic acquaintances along the Yellow Brick Road was no doubt a welcome distraction from headline after headline about the burgeoning war in Europe.

Much has changed in the ensuing 85 years, and the Kent Theatre is but a distant memory in local theatrical lore – yet The Wizard of Oz’s appeal remains timeless. And that’s exactly what the cast and crew of this year’s fall musical at the FLATO Academy Theatre hopes will bring people into the famed auditorium for four performances between Nov. 22 and 24, 2024.

“For me, Wizard of Oz is like coming home,” reflects Beth Wilson, who is no stranger to the director’s chair, having overseen last year’s production of James and the Giant Peach. “The Wizard of Oz was the very first show I was ever in – and I was Dorothy,” she recalls. “Throughout my life, I have always come back to it. I love the story and get giddy when I hear the music. It is like comfort food, because I knew it so well, and I wanted other people in the community to have that experience.”

Kawartha Lakes Weekly recently took in the cast’s costume parade, wherein each character made their way across the stage for inspection by costume designer Jennifer Simpson. From the dapper garb worn by the Wizard (Scott McLeod) to the brilliant emerald attire donned by the citizens of Oz; from the frightful cloak and makeup of the Wicked Witch of the West (Allison Merritt), to the regal vesture of Glinda the Good Witch (Sydney Harwood-Jones), each outfit is a testament to Simpson’s talents in concocting creative costumes.

The costume parade completed, performers get down to the business of rehearsing their lines in preparation for the big night. In front of the stage, flautist Laurie Jolicoeur and pianist Lynne Davis run through the score, bringing forth merry melodies that promise to stir the souls and hearts of audience members young and young-at-heart. There is a palpable energy in the room, there is chatter and laughter as everyone works in concert to support each other – and the feeling of being part of something much bigger than the sum of its parts is not lost on the cast.

“I really like how Dorothy’s a big dreamer, how she always wants something bigger from the world – and I think that’s a good thing to think about,” reflects Ella Wilson, who plays the protagonist. “She’s very kind, makes friends with everyone, and she always stands up for what she thinks is right.”

Tom Collver, noted for his comical persona on the Academy stage, has been cast as the lovable Scarecrow. “What resonates for me about the Scarecrow is his curiosity for everything around him,” Collver says. “After being stuck on a pole in one spot, he gets an opportunity to meet a lot of different people and go to a lot of different places, and learns a lot about himself through that.” These sentiments are echoed by Sean Winter, who as the Tin Man goes to the Emerald City in search of a heart. “He’s looking for connection with other people and the world around him to feel truly alive – and that’s something we’re all looking for,” Winter states.

This journey of self-discovery is of particular importance to Matt Avery, who takes on the mantle of the Cowardly Lion. “Some of us need to learn to take risks and stand up for ourselves, and stand up not only for ourselves but for the things we believe in and the people we care about,” he says.

As in 1939, the anxieties and uncertainties in our own world often leave us longing for something better, something we might glimpse on the distant horizon despite the snares of darkness and evil encompassed all around us – rather like the journey Dorothy and her friends take to the Emerald City. Yet as Beth Wilson points out, it is not so much the destination that matters, but rather the people who join us to get there. “The most important people in your life make you think, make you love, and make you brave – and remember that there really is no place like home,” she says. “I hope it will take the audience into a place of imagination and comfort.”

The Wizard of Oz goes up at the Academy Theatre on Nov. 22 (7:00 p.m.), 23 (2:00 and 7:00 p.m.), and 24 (2:00 p.m.). For tickets and additional information, please visit flatoacademytheatre.com.