''The Marvelous Land of Oz'' is a 1981

musical play Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

Thomas W. Olson Thomas W. Olson is an American playwright and lyricist who adapted L. Frank Baum's ''The Marvelous Land of Oz'', Mary Shelley's ''Frankenstein'' (both of which aired on national television and cable), and Stephen Crane's ''The Red Badge of Courage' ...

(book), Gary Briggle (lyrics), and

Richard Dworsky ''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...

(music), based on the 1904 novel by L. Frank Baum. Briggle originated the role of the

Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesle ...

in the original production, directed by John Cark Donahue at The Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis. The production was

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

ed (

videotape Videotape is magnetic tape used for storing video and usually sound in addition. Information stored can be in the form of either an analog or digital signal. Videotape is used in both video tape recorders (VTRs) and, more commonly, videoca ...

d) for

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

under the direction of

John Driver John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, the first of six such productions with Television Theatre Company and the only one to be strictly bound to the theatre. The overture in the film depicts the cast and crew getting ready for the performance, while the other five films had openings that were shot on location or in studios.

Adaptation

The adaptation remains very faithful to the novel. Some more elaborate moments, such as the

Jackdaw Jackdaws are two species of bird in the genus ''Coloeus'' closely related to, but generally smaller than, the crows and ravens (''Corvus''). ''Coloeus'' is sometimes treated as a subgenus of ''Corvus'', including by the IUCN.Madge & Burn (1994) ...

's Nest, are eliminated for the sake of time and stageability. In addition, the role of

Jellia Jamb Jellia Jamb is a fictional character from the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. She is first introduced in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900), as the head maid who works in the royal palace of the Emerald ...

is expanded to give the story a greater female presence. In the original/film General Jinjur, contrary to the novel, appears dressed in red, despite being from the Munchkin Country, and none of the soldiers have green tops as in the novel. An added character is

Colonel Cardamom Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

, a Winkie, as Jinjur's second in command. Mombi's visits to Dr. Nikidik are also depicted onstage. Unlike the novel, the play hints that King

Pastoria King Pastoria is a fictional character mentioned in the Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. He was the rightful ruler and King of the undiscovered Land of Oz, but was mysteriously removed from his position when the Wizard of Oz unexpect ...

may still be alive with the exchange between the

and

Glinda Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Coun ...

, "Isn't Pastoria dead and gone?" "That is the popular belief." This is a nod to

Ruth Plumly Thompson Ruth Plumly Thompson (27 July 1891 – 6 April 1976) was an American writer of children's stories, best known for writing many novels placed in Oz, the fictional land of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' ...

's ''

The Lost King of Oz ''The Lost King of Oz'' (1925) is the nineteenth in the series of Oz books created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the fifth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was Illustrated by John R. Neill. The book went into the public domain on Ja ...

'', in which Pastoria is found in an enchanted form and restored to normal, though declines returning to his duties as King. In the novel, the Scarecrow's question is a statement to which Glinda has no response in this regard.

Songs

*"Mombi's Brew" *"All Alone" *"I'm Your Son" *"Women in Revolt" *"Another Perfect Morning" *"The Good Ol' Days" *"Professor H. M. Woggle-Bug T. E." *"One Happy, Hearty Band" *"Look to Your Own Heart"

Original cast

Wendy Lehr Wendy is a given name now generally given to girls in English-speaking countries. In Britain, Wendy appeared as a masculine name in a parish record in 1615. It was also used as a surname in Britain from at least the 17th century. Its popularity ...

Mombi Mombi is a fictional character in L. Frank Baum's classic children's series of Oz Books. She is the most significant antagonist in the second Oz book ''The Marvelous Land of Oz'' (1904), and is alluded to in other works. Mombi plays a very impor ...

Christopher Passi Christopher is the English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or '' Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Christ" or "Anointed", and φέρε ...

: Tip/ Ozma *Carl Beck:

Jack Pumpkinhead Jack Pumpkinhead is a fictional character from the Land of Oz and appears in several of the classic children's series of Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. The Classic Oz Books Jack first appeared as a main character in the second Oz ...

*Gary Briggle:

Stephen Boe Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

Tin Woodman Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, also known as the Tin Man or—mistakenly—the "Tin Woodsman," is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. Baum's Tin Woodman first appeared in his classic 1900 book '' ...

Rana Haugen Rana may refer to: Astronomy * Rana (crater), a crater on Mars * Delta Eridani or Rana, a star People, groups and titles * Rana (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Rana (title), a historica ...

Julee Cruise Julee Ann Cruise (December 1, 1956 – June 9, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter and actress, known for her collaborations with composer Angelo Badalamenti and film director David Lynch in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She released four ...

: Gen.

Jinjur General Jinjur is an antagonist in ''The Marvelous Land of Oz''. She is a character in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum and his successors.Jack Snow, ''Who's Who in Oz'', Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; pp. 109 ...

* Steve Huke: Guardian of the Gates * Kathleen Wegner:

*Tom Dunn: H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E. * Garth Schumacher: Dr. Nikidik * Suzanne Petri: Col. Cardamon * Oliver Osterberg: Soldier of Oz ( Omby Amby) * James McNee: Voices of

Sawhorse In woodworking, a saw-horse or sawhorse (saw-buck, trestle, buck) is a trestle structure used to support a board or plank for sawing. A pair of sawhorses can support a plank, forming a scaffold. In certain circles, it is also known as a ' ...

& Mouse Queen

External links

* 1981 musicals 1981 television films 1981 films Musicals based on novels American fantasy comedy films Musicals based on The Wizard of Oz 1980s musical films Films based on works by L. Frank Baum 1980s English-language films 1980s American films {{Oz-stub

Adaptation

Songs

Original cast

See also

External links