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Cast puts its stamp on 'Oz'

It's a classic with a twist as Munchkins, Dorothy and Toto, too, take the stage in a Hernando High musical.

By LOGAN NEILL
Published April 28, 2006

Don't be afraid to use your imagination.

Realizing that the popular musical has been a must-see for every generation since the film's debut in 1939, Fickley asked his actors to work toward bringing something new to the time-honored tale by taking a closer look at their characters' personalities and not to concentrate on bringing the movie version to the live stage.

"It was a relief to hear him say that,'' said Hernando High junior Seth Spence, who portrays the Cowardly Lion. "I think it gave us more freedom to explore and to put more of ourselves into the characters we play. So far, it's worked, and I think people who come to see it are going to get a kick out of it.''

The musical, which continues through Sunday at the Hernando Performing Arts Center in Brooksville, is undoubtedly the largest production that Fickley's drama students have done since he was hired to teach social studies and drama at the school last fall.

With an ensemble cast of 28 including about a dozen pint-sized Munchkins borrowed from Brooksville Elementary School, Fickley admits that putting together a show as large as The Wizard Of Oz has offered plenty of challenges for his students, many of whom are relatively new to the world of theater.

"What they lack in experience is more than made up by their tremendous enthusiasm for wanting to tell this story,'' Fickley said. "I think audiences will appreciate what they've accomplished in a short amount of time."

While few members of the cast have more than a smattering of stage experience, Fickley believes that when it comes to putting on a children's classic such as The Wizard Of Oz, it was better to choose actors whose hearts were truly into portraying the characters they played.

Fickley saw such dedication in Hernando High junior Aline Bryant, who was chosen to play the lead role of Dorothy Gale. Though she has never acted on stage before, Bryant decided to audition for the musical "just to see what would happen".

"It's every little girl's dream of being Judy Garland and singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow," said Bryant. "It's been a little hectic from time to time. It's been a lot of fun."

However, the role hasn't been without its challenges. As Dorothy, Bryant spends most of her time on stage in the company of her dog, Toto, being played in the production by a Yorkie-mix pup named Sasha. The problem, says Bryant, is that Sasha is a tad on the heavy side - and is not always the quiet, obedient pooch everyone had hoped she would be.

"She tends to get a little squirmy after being held for a long time," Bryant said. "The other thing we worry about is her having an accident onstage. That can be a little embarrassing."

Rob Tucker, who plays the Tin Man, said that despite having just six weeks to prepare for the musical, the cast and crew were determined to put in as much effort as needed to get The Wizard of Oz ready in time for opening night.

"I think a lot of us were skeptical at first," said the Hernando High junior. "You'd walk into the theater and see that so much needed to get done. Somehow it did, and now we're ready. I can hardly wait."

Logan Neill can be reached at lneill@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1435.

[Last modified April 28, 2006, 08:32:26]