Dorothy in Oz, at Rage of the Stage Players, revives the troupe’s first show, written and directed by James Michael Shoberg. One can see why it’s back — any play whose first line is “Shut the fuck up, Toto!” will appeal to the 12-year-old in everyone. That is all you need to decide whether the show will be funny to you.
In familiar Rage of the Stage fashion, the play takes a children’s story, in this case the MGM adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, and gives it a 2003-mall-goth reimagining. Dorothy, played by the expertly sarcastic Adrienne Fischer, is afflicted with bipolar disorder, given an untested medication, and hallucinates a strange hospital where she seeks Doctor Oz, the administrator, to request release.
She is, of course, joined by three friends, including Skarekrow, a heroin addict with Dick Van Dyke’s Cockney accent, and Rusty Tinneman, who has anger problems.
Joseph A. Roots plays Dorothy’s third friend, Mr. Lyons, an impotent sex addict who wishes to recover his “courage,” a euphemism for virility which no human being has ever used. Roots neuters (ha ha) a little of the inherent horror of his character by aping a cartoon — he tip-toes with his arms raised high, he howls and a-woo-gas, and does everything short of having his eyes pop out of his head when he sees anything with hips.
The strongest performer was Jen James as Dr. Green, who at first plays a very funny unethical doctor (a phrase which I have never typed before). Her scene is incontestably the highlight of the show. Later, as the hallucinated Wicked Witch, she has to act like a cartoon Nazi, which was almost a disappointment after her initial appearance.
A word of warning: This play contains one of the more demeaning portrayals of transgender people I’ve seen in a while — and if you spend much time at the theater, you understand the gravity of that statement. In the show’s marketing, hormone-replacement therapy is classified as a “deranged experiment.” My night’s audience found it funny, but you might want to brace yourself.
This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2014.
I don’t even know where to begin. This isn’t a review, this is just insulting.
It was not hormone replacement therapy, it WAS a deranged experiment. The character was not asking to switch genders, the witch forced it on him, hence the humor. There was nothing “offensive” about it.
Also, there was not a howl or “awooga” from Lyons. Ever. And what’s the difference if you claim that “no human has ever used that euphemism?” You’ve asked every human ever? Ever heard of performance anxiety? Virility can totally be tied to emotional status…including anxiety. Not like it matters from a medical standpoint IT’S A COMEDY! Something with which you’re obviously unfamiliar.
Don’t know what show you were watching. The witch’s Nazi-esque character was absolutely hilarious. Let’s not forget all the clever references/lines from the MGM film that were twisted around in various, fun ways.
The night I was there, the cast received a standing ovation. My friends and family were raving about it. Your idea of comedy is probably more along the lines of…I’m going out on a limb and saying…Big Bang Theory. Stick to that stuff.
This review is not fit to line my fireplace. Not only is it slop from the point of view of someone who enjoyed the show *immensely* but as a writer and fan of theatre…ugh. More proof the city paper will hire just about anyone who can type.
If you design a play that exploits the struggles of folks struggling with mental health and gender-based oppression for a few laughs, but then can’t handle the sarcastic criticism of said “art,” then you likely were not in touch with the topics in the first place. Love this review. It made me laugh. And gave me needed information about the play.
Your words are english but all i can hear is “bahhh bahhhh bahhhh.” Just follow along blindly and heaven forbid you, oh I don’t know, see it for yourself and GASP concoct your own opinion!?
The play exploited no one. This reviewer is obviously one of those folks who carries a soap box beneath her arm and looks for any chance to be offended simply for the sake of being offended…and letting everyone know about it. As a member of the LGBT community and an avid supporter of the arts, you all need to lighten up.
But if this review made you laugh…you ought to just avoid creative endeavors of any kind and stick with what you can handle. Like CSI Miami and its ilk. All this review told me is that someone went into this show expecting to hate it regardless of what went on. Inventing a method by which to act morally outraged is proof enough of that.
If this is the type of drivel the city paper allows then I won’t bother picking it up anymore. Reviewer, I would suggest you take a look at some more professional reviews and take copious notes. Comment-poster, break away from the herd and trying formulating your own opinions.
“It seems to me that a body is only a machine for brains to direct, and those who have no brains themselves are liable to be directed by others.” -The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, adapted by Eric Shanower
HOW ON EARTH DID THIS REVIEW GET YOU ALL WORKED UP? IT’S JUST A REVIEW. DID YOU BREAK A NAIL TODAY?