Anisa Cameron

By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Wicked, the “prequel” to The Wizard of Oz, has been getting the lion’s share of attention lately in Wizard lore, owing to the highly successful Broadway musical and last year’s movie spectacle.

But the original L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz book and, especially, 1939 movie endure, especially as the latter has been a TV perennial since the 1950s. (Fun fact: This was one of the very, very few programs CBS presented in colour in the 1950s.)

Now, the wonders of The Wizard of Oz can be seen live and in person by audience members of all ages. The Côte St. Luc Dramatic Society is presenting the classic at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium, at the Bernard Lang Civic Centre from May 29 to June 15 — 17 performances. The cast is multigenerational and includes six children, as well as elements of puppetry. The co-producers are Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, and councillors Andee Shuster and Mitch Kujavsky.

Brownstein, who plays the Wizard, says that “in a world that often feels uncertain, The Wizard of Oz reminds us that intelligence, compassion, and courage are the keys to finding strength—not only within ourselves, but in the power of community. This heartwarming journey is exactly the kind of story we need right now; one that inspires us to believe in each other and the magic of home.”

Anisa Cameron, artistic director of the CSLDS and director and choreographer of this production, told The Suburban that The Wizard of Oz has “been on our wish list for quite some time, and this felt like the perfect moment to bring it to life.

“This past year marked the 85th anniversary of the beloved film, a milestone that reminded us just how timeless and meaningful this story continues to be. At the same time, Wicked has captured the hearts of a new generation, proving how deeply the world that began with L. Frank Baum’s book still resonates with audiences today. We also wanted to offer something truly magical for audiences of all ages—a show that families can enjoy together, filled with imagination, heart, and, of course, courage.”

Cameron also enthusiastically pointed out to The Suburban that the CSLDS production will have the same amount of music, and other elements, as the 1939 movie.

“We won the rights to The Royal Shakespeare Company version of The Wizard of Oz – which has all of the iconic characters, storyline and music you know and love from the film,” she explained.

Asked if the play will closely follow the movie, or if there will be any differences, Cameron responded that “the live show has a few changes, but for the most part is exactly in line with the film. There is a number from the 1939 film that ended up on the cutting room floor called The Jitterbug that will be back in our show. It’s a really fun song and dance sequence!”

The 1939 movie has many special effects — how will this be handled for a stage production?

“Lots and lots of theatre magic,” Cameron says. “We have a very small but mighty space, and I think we do a pretty good job of transforming it for each production. We will be using puppets again this year, designed by Lily Lachapelle and all audiences should take note there will be liberal use of stage smoke and lighting effects. We have a tremendous team of designers who support us in our productions.”

We also asked if the CSLDS would eventually present Wicked itself.

“Absolutely, if the rights ever come available,” Cameron told The Suburban. “Wicked is still playing on Broadway and the West End, so other, smaller companies don’t have access until the rights houses are allowed to sell to all of us who are eagerly waiting.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.csldramaticsociety.com. n