The Wizard of Oz- Page 3

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 7:56pm

I saw online that some productions had Glinda singing an "Over The Rainbow" reprise at the end...is this the usual case?
I believe our version has The Jitterbug in it so which script would that entail with which Glinda solos?
The cast list goes up Friday..obviously, I'm hoping for Glinda!! :x

[Emcee4ever]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 8:06pm

What're the Witch's funny lines in the RSC version?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:01pm

Emcee4ever-
Things like:

"Where is my sister? (Glinda points at the house) Allright, who's the smart alec who turned her into a house?"

(While threatening the 4 friends in her castle)
"What's the matter Scarecrow, don't you want to be my old flame?"

Etc, etc.

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:20pm

I believe we're doing the RSC version..so what does that entail for Glinda if someone wouldnt mind answering? :)

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:28pm

In the RSC version:
If you are double cast as Aunt Em. You will have two nightmarish costume changes.

If you are not, the above does not apply. However, you will:
1) Do all the things written in the MGM movie.
2) You will sing "Optimistic Voices" during the Poppy Field sequence to close Act 1.
3) Some productions do use a reprise of "Over the Rainbow." Typically it is little more than the verse leading into it (As was used in the 1998 Nat'l Tour), sometimes it's portions of the main song. Typically she will lead the reprise during the curtain call if it's used.

That's really about all there is to it. Glinda is not that large a part.

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 09:28 PM

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:32pm

Thanks..no, we're not double cast. And I know that it's not that large but I don't look like a Dorothy and I wasn't asked to read for the Wicked Witch so it's basically Glinda or bust lol. I DO really like the part though.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 10:15pm

It's still a good one, though. And, I've heard that you get a chance to enjoy being in it if you aren't one of the 4 principals.

[kyle.]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:29pm

My problem with the MUNY version is the horrible, horrible book. The writing is just AWFUL!

Example:

The tornado scene. Dorothy, Aunt Em, and Uncle Henry are all getting into the cellar. Just as Dorothy is about to go in they say something like:

Dorothy: Oh wait! I forgot something!
Aunt Em: Dorothy! Get in here this minute!
Dorothy: I forgot the flowers I picked for Uncle Henry's birthday!!! (She runs into the house).

I mean, that is just laughable. The writing is awful.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:39pm

As a kid I worked on a simply gorgeous production of the show based on the Tams Whitmark version. There was a lovely ballad for Dorthy in the second act called "Evening Star" that sounded like the b-side of a Glenn Miller recording. All-in-all a wonderful show.

Our Wicked Witch appeared in a flash of pyrotechnic smoke which one night caught Dorthy's house on fire. The stage manager noticed the flames, grabbed the extinguisher and ran to the wings. He hit the button just as the Witch said "AND YOUR LITTLE DOG AS WELL" and there was a huge WHHHHHHOOOOSH of fire retardant which no doubt caused half the little kids in the audience to pee their pants.

We should have kept that in every performance.....

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 11:39 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 12:14am

Glinda is such a great part, especially, I would imagine, if you don't double as Aunt Em (heh). Those costume changes seriously are madness. I think that you have a minute or two to switch from Em into full Glinda attire, and even less to go back to Aunt Em at the end.

Anyway, I think what the part entails has already been covered. I had a little bit of trouble with the Optimistic Voices solo going so low, but I'm not the strongest singer in he first place. You get to have Munchkins!
Updated On: 1/25/07 at 12:14 AM

[sidjones09]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 12:49am

Allofmylife, I've heard about this song 'Evening Star'. I have been told how beautiful it is, but I've never heard it. Do you know of any good recordings of it.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 1:22am

There is a recording of "Evening Star," however the only place I have ever seen it is in a really odd studio recording of the show (that I do not own, and have seen maybe twice on eBay). The song, while pretty, is kinda pointless, and really a little creepy considering the men in Emerald City are supposed to swoon over her for it.
And yes, the MUNY version does have incredibly awkward writing.

As to the costume change BACK to Aunt Em. Typically the Aunt Em costume is under the Glinda dress, so that all that needs doing is a shoe and hair change. Typically, Aunt Em wears a bun, which takes minimal time to do, AND she is the LAST one back on. The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion (particularly Tin Man) have it MUCH worse. The change INTO Glinda is also not terribly problematic, the Witch is the one to have it rough.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 1:53am

That does sound creepy. I can't remember the setting but it was in no way done like that in our version. The song itself is the flip side of "Over The Rainbow" and in a stage musical, makes a great deal of sense. It's a song of longing by a little girl who wanted to go 'over the rainbow' and now wants the Evening Star to guide her home. Nothing salacious there.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/25/07 at 2:05am

Right, that's how the song is MEANT to be song...sadly the original intent was for the men to Swoon.

[Emcee4ever]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 6:41pm

In the RSC production, Glinda sings Optimistic Voices as well as...uhm...Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are.

So she sings more than her movie counterpart did.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 8:52pm

"...I've heard that you get a chance to enjoy being in it if you aren't one of the 4 principals."

Oh so true. My school did the RSC production this year, and three of the four leads (And one of the crew members) were injured during rehersals for the show. Our original scarecrow had a skiing accident, which resulted in a broken shoulder. So we brought in his understudy to play the role (Who I thought was much better, personally). Our Tinman was at work when he accidentaly injured his hand. Thankfully, he was alright by opening night. And our Lion, while rehearsing the melting scene, stepped on a nail. Luckily, he was also alright by the time the show came.

But if THAT wasn't enough, there was a snowstorm, and one of our performances was cancelled. That was dissapointing.

In the end, though, it was a really well done production for the budget we had, and it was quite a hit with everybody, cast and audience. Well, maybe not for the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow...

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 9:16pm

The Wizard of Oz was the first ever musical I was in when I was 11, I played a munchkin(I had one line that the director added and gave me since we were using a real dog as Toto and he needed a leash throughout the show, so I said-"a gift from the munchkins for Toto!), and it was a blast. We had a separate Glinda and Auntie Em though, but Glinda was double cast, all the main roles were, except for the Wizard. It was a really great experience, and the cast was awesome. It was also at an outdoor theater, so we took advantage of the effects(the tornado was AWESOME). The Witch also went on the orchestra gazebo when she was shooting flames at the Scarecrow. Our yellow brick road extended out into the audience too. I was also a flying monkey, and I loved watching the Jitterbug scene before going on. It was really great, and the jitterbugs had awesome costumes that glowed in the dark. But the one dissadvantage in outdoor theater was one night we could have actually had a real tornado and we had to stop at intermission. All the munchkins(including myself) were crying hysterically and freaking out, and we looked like we were melting because all our crazy clown make-up smeared down. Still, it was a fun experience.

[Emcee4ever]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:00am

The Jitterbug sounds really fun. :)