WIZARD OF OZ CHARACTERS ~coming soon~
WIZARD OF OZ SONGS ~coming soon~
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As the Overture fades, Dorothy Gale is seen rushing in distress down a dusty road. Neighbouring busybody Miss Gulch has threatened Dorothy's little dog Toto, who heroically bit her. But no-one at the farm will listen to Dorothy's complaints. Farmhands Zeke, Hink and Hickory, as well as Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, are all too preoccupied with their farmwork to sympathise. By herself, Dorothy dreams of a place to which she and Toto can escape, "Over the Rainbow".
Miss Gulch arrives, determined to take Toto off to be destroyed. Thinking she has no support from anyone at the farm, Dorothy runs away with Toto. Before she can get very far, she is encouraged to return home by the kindly but mysterious Professor Marvel, proprietor of a travelling Medicine Show. When she gets back, however, a tornado whips up and a twister picks up Dorothy's house like a toy, with only her and Toto inside.
On landing, Dorothy awakens from a knock on the head to find the house has come down in the Wonderful Land of Oz - and right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, explains all about the crushed Witch and the Munchkins who live in this part of Oz, "Munchkinland". The rejoicing at the demise of the Wicked Witch is interrupted by the arrival of her enraged sister, the Wicked Witch of the West. She is even angrier, however, when Glinda puts the dead Witch's magic ruby slippers on Dorothy's feet. The Wicked Witch flies off on her broomstick, vowing a horrible revenge.
Dorothy is advised that in order to return to Kansas, she must seek the aid of the Wizard who lives in the Emerald City. Pointed along the Yellow Brick Road by the Munchkins, she sets off. Along the way she meets a Scarecrow, "If I Only Had A Brain", "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead Reprise" a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion, all equally in need of the Wizard's help. More confident now, they march onwards. "We're Off To See The Wizard","If I Only Had A Heart" . The Wicked Witch draws them into a field of poppies where they fall into a deep sleep. Before it is too late, Glinda sends a snow storm to awaken them, and they set off once more for the Emerald City.
After the intermission, the Town Guard of Emerald City shows them around. While waiting to see the Wizard, Lion boasts of how different things will be when he is given his courage. "If I Only Had the Nerve". At last, the trio meets the Wizard, who refuses them until they have brought him back the Wicked Witch's broomstick.
In the Haunted Wood, "The Jitterbug" the Witch's flying monkeys swoop down and carry off Dorothy and Toto but her friends trace her to the Witch's castle. Suddenly, they are surrounded by the Witch's guards, the Winkies. Accidentally, Dorothy throws a bucket of water at the Witch, she is aiming at the smouldering Scarecrow, and the Witch melts away before their eyes. Taking the broomstick, they return to the Wizard "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", "Merry Old Land of Oz".
The Wizard turns out to be a fraud. But he has the common sense to show the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man they have achieved what they were searching for. After all of her friends are given that which they lacked, Dorothy is told she has the power to return home, there on her feet. She too has learnt what it is she wants: "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard." Clicking her ruby slippers together three times, and intoning "There's no place like home", she awakens, back in Kansas, and reconciled to all her friends and family there - whom she now understands. "Finale"
