We were off to see the Wizard! The Wizard of Oz at the Ordway

I braved the subzero temperatures to go to the theater last night. Even bundled from head to toe, I was still freezing as I trekked through downtown St. Paul, narrowly missing being hit by a car, blinded by the dazzling lights in the park across from the theater. I was not the only one. The show was sold out and filled to the brim with little girls dressed as Dorothy. Adorable.

I was excited for this Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Admittedly I was not a fan of the classic movie starring Judy Garland. Quite frankly, it terrified me as a child. I hated those damn monkeys. Shudder.

Well, this stage version had plenty of fright! The twister scene was loud and turbulent filled with special effects that made you feel like you really were in a twister. Overall, the special effect additions really brought it to life; the Wizard on a big screen, the Wicked Witch and her monkeys flying around. It was stellar.

The actress who played Dorothy was amazing. She had just enough drama and emotion to make the impact but didn't over do it. She didn't try to be Judy Garland. I appreciated it. All of the side characters were delightful; funny in the all the right spots without being too showy. A few "adult" humored moments were sprinkled in but certainly nothing too inappropriate for the young audience.

Overall, my guest and I absolutely loved it! We thought it was one of the best theater productions we had seen in a long time. We shared plenty of laughter and a little shuddering when those damn monkeys came around! 

I highly recommend this for a holiday outing for the family. I wouldn't recommend it for too little of kids; perhaps 8 and up? The little girl who sat in front of us said confidently "I was not scared!" and she seemed roughly around 9.  That is just my two cents. Every kid is different. 

The show is running now through December 29. Go the the Ordway's website for more info. There you will also find information about the 2014 Flint Hills International Children's Festival.

Happy Viewing and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child