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Bellmore, Long Island. In a newly renovated auditorium at the Grand Avenue Middle
School, a unique group of actors have assembled. Some 70 men and
women are here to learn what role they will play in a production of
The Wizard of Oz, this year's presentation by the Drama Program of
A.N.C.H.O.R., an acronym for "Answering the Needs of Citizens
with Handicaps through Organized Recreation." Though these
actors may seem hindered by various disabilities (from palsies to
Down syndrome), each of them is eager to show that he or she can
contribute in a positive way to the production. As Program Director
Sandy Braun reads out the names and corresponding roles - from
Munchkins and Soldiers all the way to the Scarecrow, the Tin Man,
the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy - the actors respond with jubilation
and excitement. One young woman, Elizabeth, is overcome with
emotion after being chosen to play the dual role of Miss
Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, and rushes out of the auditorium
to call her mother with the great news. For Elizabeth and all the cast
members, working on this production will be exciting, but it will
require sacrifice, dedication and teamwork. The payoff will come in
four months, when The Wizard of Oz will be staged before an
audience of family and friends.
In the early stages of rehearsal, the difficulties some of the actors face
with their roles (and, in some cases, their schedules) test the patience
of Sandy, who insists on commitment and sacrifice from each
participant. Through these rehearsals, and in additional scenes
filmed outside of the school, we get to know the principal players in
the production. These include Dave (the Tin Man), who spends
most of the time in his wheelchair but who exudes boundless
optimism and real wit behind his coke-bottle glasses; John (the
Cowardly Lion), a talented actor whose low-key, deadpan delivery
belies his enthusiasm for the project; Danny (the Scarecrow), a
reliable and often inspired performer (when he's available for
rehearsal); Chris (the Mayor of Munchkinland), who is eager to
please and works hard on remembering his crucial welcoming line;
and Tricia (Dorothy), a "fringe" member of A.N.C.H.O.R. according
to Sandy, who thinks she "wants to grow up" and may not continue
with the program past this year. As for Sandy, who oversees the
production with help from A.N.C.H.O.R.'s coordinator Joe Lentini,
seeking to obtain perfection isn't the point. "The great stuff," she
says, "comes in the possibilities, not in the guarantees."
As the performance approaches, a few concerns surface. One day, 19
actors are missing from rehearsal, including Danny, who has a job at
the Nassau Coliseum. After Sandy threatens to replace Danny, Dave
calls his friend and leaves a passionate message for him to return;
after all, it just wouldn't be the same without Danny as the
Scarecrow. One of the most delightful and well-liked actors in the
production, Dave loves to sing Barry White songs when he's not
rehearsing; his late father collected the singer's records. When asked
if his father would be at the performance "in spirit," Dave admits
that his dad never attended his important events growing up,
including his graduation, because he always seemed "too busy...I'm
sad that he passed away, but I hate him for what he used to do." It's
the only time we ever see Dave get upset.
At dress rehearsal, Murphy's Law rules. Indeed, everything that can
go wrong, does: dropped lines, missed cues, costume glitches, audio,
you name it. Though frazzled, Sandy stays upbeat, feeling that the
triumph of the big show will more than erase the failures of dress
rehearsal. And sure enough, when the Big Day arrives, the cast and
crew of The Wizard of Oz truly rise to the occasion - giving the
audience good reason to cheer, and the grateful cast reason to take a
well-deserved bow.
CREDITS: Directed by Matthew Makar and Keith Rondinelli; Produced by
Matthew Makar; Edited by Keith Rondinelli.
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