Barrington children bring 'Wizard of Oz' to life

Production includes flying monkeys, special effects

Posted 8/18/17

The Primrose Neighborhood Theater Troupe returned to the stage recently with a joyful distillation of L. Frank Baum's “The Wizard of Oz”. With a script adaptation by Lola Gambino and …

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Barrington children bring 'Wizard of Oz' to life

Production includes flying monkeys, special effects

Posted

The Primrose Neighborhood Theater Troupe returned to the stage recently with a joyful distillation of L. Frank Baum's “The Wizard of Oz”. With a script adaptation by Lola Gambino and direction by Ava Hentz and Isabella Hentz, it was a successful answer to the high bar this team set for themselves with last year’s production of “Annie”.

This production was the culmination of weeks of casting, set design and creation (with a backdrop sufficiently vibrant to honor the technicolor tradition of the original film), and rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals. 

Leading up to the show, flyers were distributed throughout the Primrose neighborhood and the buzz was nearly audible. On Aug. 5, the virtual curtain opened for dozens of family and friends in the Hentz backyard. 

Dorothy (Josie Lamb) opened the show with a heartfelt rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, and from there the story briskly transitioned through the growing threat of Mrs. Gulch (Alexandria Rego), a prophetic encounter with Professor Marvel (Beckett Capizzo), and the blustery displacement of Dorothy and Toto (Charlie Hentz, canine) to the Land of Oz. 

After the discovery of the inadvertent demise of the Wicked Witch of the East, Glinda the Good Witch (Isabella Hentz), and the citizens of Munchkinland (Alivia Bishop, Rylin Munzert, Eleanor Tully, Elijah Turilli, Ella Capizzo, and Maria Lamb) sent Dorothy skipping down the Yellow Brick Road to implore the Great Oz for help with her return home. 

Along the Road, Dorothy was joined by the Scarecrow (Sam Bishop), the Tin Man (Gavin Munzert), and the Cowardly Lion (Adrian Rego), each in search of the thing they believe they were missing. Each actor contributed their respective classic numbers to the show’s line-up with a strong delivery.

Flying monkeys flew, heroes stood firm, and ultimately the Wicked Witch of the West melted in a sparkling cascade of special-effect glitter. There was even a brief, unscripted cameo by Spider Man (Max Tutalo, age 4).

In the closing scene, the Wizard’s charade was revealed and the traveling friends learned that the things they sought were within them the entire time.

The script, set, and performances for this show were all top quality, especially when one considers the entire production was brought to life by a talented group of kids no older than 11. Perhaps more importantly, the themes of the story are a reflection of life in our neighborhood: there really is no place like home. 

Ken Bishop wrote this fun review for the Times.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.