The Wizard of Oz
at Pacifica

Reviewed on March 12, 2016

Daniel Chavez
Anaheim
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Adventure 'Over The Rainbow' at Pacifica

The Wizard of Oz follows a young Kansas girl that remains in her house as a twister picks it up and drops her in the 'Merry Ole Land of Oz'. Her house lands on a witch, killing her and puting the Wicked Witch of the West to work against Dorothy as she makes her way to see the Wizard.

A young dreamer Dorothy, portrayed by Tressa Bair creates a youthful ambiance on stage from her sweet voice and facial expressions to her light, almost floating walk. The struggle for Dorthy to get to the Wizard of Oz, played by Christopher Hawley, and get home is shown by Bair's determined and strong willed take on the character.

Along her path to see the Wizard, Dorothy encounters three friends: The Scarecrow, The Tinman and The Cowardly Lion. Bekka Galperin is the whimsical Scarecrow, a clumsy being that falls across the stage in distorted shapes and positions, connoting his lack of bones and structure. This is especially shown in the musical number "If I Only Had a Brain" where Galperin turns, falls, rolls and jumps across the stage demonstrating the scarecrow's flexibility and a well constructed comedic timing.

With a thin smile and an almost angelic voice, Jarrett Guthrie is the Tinman. Guthrie has the perfect balance of stiffness in his movements and successfully makes up for the restricted movements of his character by having very prominent facial expressions. His sweet voice emulates his characters personality and gives a warm feeling to the character and his presence on stage.

The skittish Cowardly Lion with huge eyes and shaky persona is played by Kalissa Bair. Bair demonstrates the cowardly personality of her character by shaking, yelling and running. The constant playing with his tail demonstrates the fear in the character even further and is able to make the physicality of the character clearer and ever further present.

The Wicked Witch of the West, played by Jordan Small, conquers the stage with her voice and is able to add sass and flair effectively to the character. From the moment she steps on stage, Small has a sense of evil to her but is able to counter balance it with comedy to make her a likable character.

Pacifica's production of The Wizard of Oz reminds viewers that we just might be longing for something we already have deep down inside.

Juli Nazzario
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Merry Ole Land of Pacifica

Opening on a small farm in Kansas, Pacifica High School brings the classic story of Dorothy and her friends to life in their production of "The Wizard of Oz."

After a twister, Dorothy finds herself in the enchanting land of Oz. With a little help from the friends she meets along the way, she is able to find her way back home.

Dorothy (Tressa Bair) has a youthfulness about her. With her head in the clouds, she sings "Over the Rainbow" while wishing for her own magical land. Acting demure and naive, she wanders through Oz as she looks for the Wizard.

Scarecrow (Bekka Galperin) is the first friend Dorothy picks up on her journey. After being let down from her post, she collapses to the floor as if she has no bones. In times of desperation and panic, she is the comic relief. Always tripping and falling over, her clumsiness adds to her character. In "If I Only Had a Brain," her voice is lively and expressive.

Jarrett Guthrie plays the Tinman. His stiff movements and clunky steps help make the fact that he is made of tin more believable. He is almost robot-like in his physicality. While he is restricted to short, choppy body movements, his face is very expressive. His facials and movements contrast each other perfectly. With a strong voice, he sings about his troubles in "If I Only Had a Heart."

Played by Kalissa Bair, the Cowardly Lion is true to her name. Always shaking or hunched over in fright, she is committed to the character. As she hysterically cries, the terror on her face is evident.

The Wicked Witch of the West (Jordan Small) has a strong presence. With an evil cackle, she unsuccessfully tries to thwart Dorothy's journey. Her assistant, Tibia (Peyton Hill), provides comic relief as she carries out the Witch's orders.

Pacifica High School's production of "The Wizard of Oz" breathes life into the timeless story of Dorothy in the wonderful land of Oz.

Claudia Mansoory
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Pacifica takes a journey over the rainbow

In their charming production of "The Wizard of Oz", Pacifica High School shares the story of Dorothy: a young girl whose life is turned upside down when a violent twister transports her to a new world. Alone and confronted with unfamiliar surroundings, Dorothy immediately begins searching for the means to return to her Kansas home, meeting a slew of wonderful characters along the way.

With strong, distinct characters and enthusiastic performances, Pacifica shares the power of perseverance in pursuit of a goal and the importance of looking inward to discover the traits we hold inside.

Leading the journey through Oz is Tressa Bair as Dorothy. Entering with a light skip across the stage, Tressa exudes youthful energy with every move she makes. Looking longingly up at the sky with wide, innocent eyes, she expresses her dream to experience new adventures in the song "Over the Rainbow".

Bekka Galperin is lovable and exuberant as Scarecrow, the first friend Dorothy encounters on her journey. Galperin excellently harnesses physical comedy when she first steps off her post and attempts to walk. She takes a few shaky steps, and then tumbles to the ground, rolling on her back with feet sprawled in the air. In her song "If I Only Had a Brain", she shows off her smooth, deep voice which perfectly compliments her physical characterization of the Scarecrow.

A muted grunt from behind a leafy plant reveals Jarrett Guthrie frozen from rust as the Tinman. After Dorothy oils him, he begins moving but only with stiff, disjointed motions that create a captivating metallic illusion. Guthrie's consistently erect stance is contrasted by Kalissa Bair's frenetic portrayal of the Cowardly Lion. Whether screaming in shock or violently shaking in fear, Bair's every action is filled with fright.

Yuliya Zabavska is dainty and elegant as Glinda The Sorceress of the North. When Dorothy and her friends are overtaken by the magical dancing Jitterbugs, Zabavska enters and immediately introduces much needed stillness to the chaotic scene by freezing each Jitterbug in place with a gentle flick of her wrist.

With lighthearted comedy and daring thrills, Pacifica High School delivers the classic story of friendship and adventure that is "The Wizard of Oz".