The Road to Oz
The Oz actors standing on stage preparing to bow (Photo: Dylan Cooper, The Puma Prensa)
By Dylan Cooper, staff writer
How wonderful it is to dream of a place beyond this world, a whimsical land of freedom and fun. To many, venturing over the rainbow seems just like a fantasy, an impossible task that no one would ever take upon themselves. But there are those who dare to bring it into reality, who want to make the world of imagination come alive, and thanks to the incredible work of Maria Carrillo High School’s incredibly talented drama program, we have been able to do just that.
Months prior to the actual show dates, both the cast and crew were hard at work in bringing the magical setting of The Wizard of Oz to life. The crew had spent some time perfecting all parts of the show to be ready for proper presentation. “I think my favorite part in the play was Munchkin Land,” said junior Jordan Bailie, the assistant choreographer on set, “it was super hard to learn, but having everyone to put it all together was so much fun.” When viewing the show for the first time, the set had truly taken on the form of The Wizard of Oz in the most incredible way.
The show could not have been the same without the exceptional work of those who orchestrated every side effect in every scene. Junior Aston Rashap had put his all into perfecting the different sound effects being played, and when questioned on the technical feats of the crew, he “was super impressed by the lights, in terms of the tornado scene and when the witch appeared in Munchkin Land,” said Rashap. Everyone who was involved offstage pushed to make the show feel alive as possible, and because of their effort, witnessing the show had been an enchanting experience that felt as real as it could get.
The performers on stage had truly bled their hearts out in every scene they were in, with each actor pouring everything they could into their characters. Emotions ran high throughout every night they performed, shocking the audience with a level of depth and dedication to their roles. “It was super fascinating to learn that I could do the things her character could do,” said Freshman Juliet Tenoso, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West on stage, “as soon as I had access to the costume it really helped secure the character I had been waiting to see.” She spent a while getting ready to embody the character live and when the time finally came, she had mastered her portrayal. However, the stunning performance of Tenoso wasn’t the only brilliant act, with all the other actors beautifully stepping into their respective roles. The main four had all embodied their characters magnificently, generating rapid applause for their impeccable skills. This, paired with the other unique and wonderful acts on stage, made the whole thing a delight to watch.
On top of the pressure while performing, a few of the lead performers had to sing and nail a song in front of the audience. They would end up doing just that and more, with each song performance being downright majestic. “After a while it just becomes second nature, you just know every line, both your own and everyone else's,” said sophomore Natalia De Anda, who perfectly took on the role of Dorothy Gale herself. She was an excellent choice for the lead, maneuvering her way through the most emotional parts of the show to the most comedic in almost every scene. The vocal performances were remarkable to witness, but they did require some practice, according to Asher Lenox, the musical’s very own Scarecrow. “I got the rhythm down pretty well and the notes for the most part, I just had to get to the right octave and it took a bit of practice to get the words,” said Lenox. The actors spent much time with Gail Bowers, the choir teacher, who helped them with each of their songs and in the end it truly paid off, with each one of them showing off their vocal control on stage. Their voices, paired with the live music provided by our band and their teacher, Matthew Bringedahl, helped the music scene shine to a forefront in the variety of showings.
It would also be heinous to forget about the one actor who truly stole the spotlight, our canine superstar Iona, who’s rendition of Todo was absolutely flawless. She captivated the audience whenever she was on stage and brought a sense of awe and wonder into the crowd. The cast and crew are very grateful to the Lenox family for allowing the drama team to make Iona into a star. The show would not have reached the same height without her.
With rapturous applause drawn from the audience and a seemingly endless supply of positive reviews, it is safe to say that this show was a great success. All of this could not have been done without the director of the show and drama teacher Elia Yen herself, who truly devoted her time to making this play as authentic and profound as possible. She worked tirelessly to organize this event and get these students together to do something remarkable. “After opening night, there was this very cool thing to witness as a teacher, and that’s the hunger, now the students get it, now they want to make it good, it’s not me pushing them, now they want it for their own joy and their own satisfaction, and they’re helping each other to find that,” said Yen. Her words resonate both on and off stage, with the drama team always supporting each other to be the best they can be, and it shines clearly through the spotlight. The creativity and expert work being put forth to create these masterpieces cannot go unsaid and the love for it from the team is strong as ever, as De Anda spoke, “at the very last show, I was crying so much because it was over and as much as I want more freetime, I am going to miss doing this with everyone, we are such a family and we’re all crying together, I’m so proud of everyone . . . and I hope to do it again next year.”