The “talented” part is thanks to its exceptionally talented cast of MiraCosta students. Sara Elliott’s beautiful voice, which was heard here last spring as Maria in West Side Story, returns in the role of the sweet and innocent Dorothy Gale who travels twister-like Over the Rainbow to learn there’s no place like home. What she finds above the rainbow is the Merry Old Land of Oz – a curious country full of colorful characters and equally colorful landscapes courtesy of Kelly Kissinger’s sets that included a gorgeous, multi-layered forest scene and adorable little houses in Munchkinland. Unfortunately for Dorothy, the most recent housing addition was her own house, which by luck happened to land on the Wicked Witch of the East and made Dorothy quite an enemy in the witch’s sister from the West played by the hysterically expressionable and delightfully wicked Lydia Lesar.

Fortunately Dorothy makes a few very valuable friends on her journey back home to Kansas who help her deal with her wicked new enemy. An amusingly cowardly Lion (Toni Billante) who is braver than he ever would have believed. A sensitive and big-hearted Tin Man (Eric Hellmers) whose tinsmith forgot to give him a heart. And especially the wise but brainless Scarecrow played so perfectly by Benjamin Hart from his voice to his rubbery dancing legs to his hilarious body language to his amazing expressions that are so completely in character every second of the show – altogether making you feel like you’ve got Ray Bolger himself onstage. But not to forget Dorothy’s other friends like the humorously humbug Wizard of Oz (Robin Morgan), a riotous performance by the melodramatic gate guard (Juan Casteneda), and last but not least, a precious little dog named Toto played by Penny in her stage debut who, though a little nervous, remembers to kiss Dorothy right on cue.

Performed through October 12, 2003.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill