Avery Dixon and Sue Gisser (Photography by Airn Media)
Reviewed by Julia Stier
Heart to Art Productions
Through October 26
RECOMMENDED
Nathan Kowalcyzk (Photo by Airn Media)
You don’t need silver slippers to become a member of Dorothy’s traveling party in Fall Into Oz, an immersive romp through the world of the Wonderful Wizard. Written by Rochelle Perry and Justin Zev Rose, and directed by Zev Rose, this guided, non-musical and interactive retelling of the classic L. Frank Baum novel is part show, part escape room, and all fun.
At the first sign of a tornado, step into Dorothy’s house right as the news comes onto the TV, with a warning that the twister is headed right towards…YOU! When the danger passes, join her as she steps into the colorful world of Oz – a beautifully cultivated private rose garden that has been reworked specifically for this experience – where the Witch of the North (Mindy Le) greets you and sets you off on your journey.
Dorothy (Isabella Thatcher) stays on as your guide through the whole experience, and helps keep the story going at a quick clip, while still allowing time at each stop. The Scarecrow (Michael Stancliff), the Tin Man (Nathan Kowalczyk), the Lion (Simon Roger Ristow), the Wizard (Paul McCrillis), and the Wicked Witch (Terri Parks) each get a chance to pose a challenge to the audience. For those who are overwhelmed by how much or how little to interact during immersive shows, this clear guidance of what to touch, where to go, and how to stay within the bounds of play will be much appreciated.
Thatcher is a spitfire Dorothy, whose admonishment of the Wizard and his lack of true leadership and honesty is the kind of precise allusion to today’s political climate that I have been craving from productions of The Wizard of Oz. Stancliff, Kowalczyk, and Ristow each get a moment to shine in their playful roles. Each performs with a sincerity that draws you in as they search for a brain, a heart, and some courage. Parks as the Wicked Witch conjures up her evil potions with a manic gusto that gives her villainy a touch of whimsy, while Stede Hendricks as the Baum the Guard, McCrillis as the Wizard and Sue Gisser as Glinda bring a magic and intensity worthy of the Emerald City.
This show is definitely for families. The unique “puzzles” at each stop are simple enough for children to excel at, and fun for adults willing to play along. Complete a literal puzzle to free the Scarecrow from his post and help him gain a brain; help the Tin Man remember his long lost love by creating “art from the heart,” and drawing a picture that sparks his memory of his beloved, and gives him his own heart; grab a tambourine and learn the moves of the Cowardly Lion’s circus performance, then run through them, giving the Lion enough courage to try it on his own.
Fun, imaginative, and a touch magical, Fall Into Oz takes Dorothy’s trip down the Yellow Brick Road to the next level.
Note: The production is doublecast.
Heart to Art Productions, A Secret Rose Garden, 23444 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Sat. and Sun, check website for schedule; through October 26. HearttoArtProductions.org. Runtime: 75 minutes with a 10-minute intermission.
