“The Wizard of Oz” Runs Through Aug. 14

As the lights go dim, a familiar overture winds its way through the crowd: “Somewhere, over the Rainbow” flows seamlessly into “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead,” which in turn transforms into “We’re off to see the Wizard.”  Then as the curtains roll back, a familiar ponytailed figure is seen, with her faithful dog Toto at her side. What follows is a retelling of the classic story of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz based on the 1939 MGM production entitled “The Wizard of Oz.”

For those of us who have either read the book or seen various productions of the movie, we can relive each moment with more and more excitement. Personally, I waited the entire time for the appearance of the flying monkeys, my favorite creatures of all time. For those of us who have never experienced “”, a vibrant and rich fantasy world full of excitement, beauty and danger awaits.  As I was watching, I was struck by the enthusiasm of the performers. Seeing the exuberant leaping of the Scarecrow, or the mechanical frustration of the Tin Man, I realized that I had never seen a more energetic performance of this play. In fact, Pery Salyer, a rising senior at Tuscarora High School who stars as the Scarecrow, said his favorite part about his role were the scenes where he could be so energetic and enthusiastic.

The music, from the 1939 movie score, brings back memories from childhood, when ABC would show “The Wizard of Oz” on one special Sunday. I was also struck by the work that the actors had clearly put into the production. For three months, the actors have been rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing, and the result is very clear. Crisp musical numbers involving large ensembles of all ages, smooth scene transitions – especially important in fantasies, which often have a number of different settings – and wonderful chemistry between all of the lead actors combine to make a wonderful play for all ages.

The Sterling Playmakers, founded in 1996, is a community theatre organization made up of Loudoun County residents that puts on anywhere from six to eight shows a year. Because they are a community theatre, it is difficult to construct and work elaborate sets. According to the producer, April Bridgeman, the Sterling Playmakers use special effects and lighting to create their settings. I found that these effects, when combined with the enthusiastic acting and key buildings like the prairie house and the Emerald City Gate created a feeling of immersion into the land of Oz better than copious amounts of painted plywood and complex machinery.

The director, Liz Mykietyn, said that she thought the hardest part of the production was flowing the scenes together seamlessly.  I think that the use of the special effects and lighting made this possible. I think “The Wizard of Oz” is first and foremost about learning to love and appreciate our friends and family. Salyer, Bridgman, and Mykietyn all said that the one word that could define the Sterling Playmakers was “community,” and that everyone in the company was so close with one another that it was like a family. In my opinion this sense of family shined through on stage in a delightful rendition of the classic story.

The cast:

• Dorothy - Katarina Bleier
• Scarecrow - Pery Salyer
• Tin Man - Tim Silk
• Lion - Kieth Flores
• Toto - Fern Marks
• Wizard - Charlie Perkins
• Glinda - Jeannie DeLisi
• Wicked Witch - Cristin Williamson
• Flying Monkeys - Kelsey Bergeron, Rachel Bleier, Cindy Lloyd, Kaya Mueller, and Zack Wold

“The Wizard of Oz” started Friday, July 29, at Potomac Falls High School, and continues July 30-31, August 5-7, and Aug. 12-14. Tickets are $15 for reserved seating and $12 for normal, and are sold either at the door or at the Sterling Playmakers website:  www.sterlingplaymakers.com.

[Editor's note: A big thanks to David Harback for the photos.]