The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
February 1-10, 2019

Colorado Ballet does not always play it safe. Two years ago they presented a new work – Alice in Wonderland. Alice pushed the limits of ballet. This year they presented The Wizard of Oz. The title alone was enough to sell out the run, but it was the production that got people talking.

Colorado Ballet didn’t stray too far from the classic story. The costume for Dorothy was her traditional blue gingham with sparkly red ballet shoes. The witches were spectacular with Glinda in a whimsical pink tutu decorated with silver bubbles and the Wicked Witch wore a skirt of long black ribbons. The munchkins and residents of Emerald City wore creative, crazy costumes. The sinister winged monkeys made the ones in the film seem harmless.

The sets were simple, almost cartoon-like. They were complemented by a screen with graphics to add more depth. A few times the graphics drew too much attention and took away from the live dancers on stage.

One of the most famous aspects of The Wizard of Oz is the memorable songs. The ballet version had its own soundtrack which perfectly caught the spirit of the show. The music was folksy for the scenes in Kansas and whimsical in Oz. The Wicked Witch had brass heavy interludes to announce her presence.

The dancing was an enjoyable blend of traditional ballet with modern additions. The choreography had a playful spirit and never took itself too seriously. The dancing was complimented by special effects. Both witches actually flew – so did the flying monkeys.

Taking on a classic film like The Wizard of Oz was not an easy task, but the Colorado Ballet pulled it off brilliantly.