Munchkins, Flying Monkeys and The Wizard of Oz

About a month ago I was waiting for my friend to bring her kids over as I was going to babysit them while she worked with a few others from the ward on a community service project at the clothing bank in Radford. She showed up, the kids piled out of the car and she proceeded to tell me that Bro. Turpin just called to let her know that at 10:30 the high school was holding auditions for Munchkins for the musical 'The Wizard of Oz'. She knew 2 of her children wanted to be in the play and I knew that some of mine would want to be in it too. I told her to go on to the clothing bank and I would corral 8 children to the high school so they could audition. (yes, I was overwhelmed with this thought, as 2 of the kids were age 2 and under, but it turned out fine, they all behaved very well.) Thus started a month long marathon of play practices (2 weeks) and performances (the remaining 2 weeks). They all had a great time. Delaney, Connor and Cailin were cast for different parts, Connor was in the Lollipop Guild and a flying monkey. Delaney was cast to be in the Lullabye League and Cailin got a speaking part during the Munchkin's scene. After a week or so of practicing Delaney became overly frightened of the Wicked Witch and no longer wanted to be in the play. She liked and grew attached to one of the high school students, Emily Landreth, who played Glenda, --she tried to convince Delaney that the wicked witch wasn't real. We took her to meet the witch with out costume and makeup--no luck, she wasn't go to budge. She was too frightended and no amount of logic was going to calm her fears. I thought she would change her mind later, but she never did. She was quite happy to watch the play and not be in the play. Everyone in the family attended the last performance Saturday night. A special suprise visitor came too...Cheri, who flew in from SLC for a suprise visit to all of us east coast family members, was able to come see the play too. (She and Elizabeth have been schemeing for a few months on this suprise. I knew Elizabeth was going to come for the weekend show--what a treat to have Cheri here too.)

Munchkin friends-- Maggie Taylor, Clarissa Mattson, Cailin, Jared Mattson, and Connor.

These guys all knew each other before the play as they go to church together. Another added bonus of participating in the play was the new friends Cailin and Connor got to make. During the performances, while waiting for turn to perform their scenes, they played hand held games with other 'muchkins' . They especially enjoyed playing with the 'mayor'.

"Come out, come out, where ever you are, and see the young lady who fell from a star" Sings Glenda to the Munchkins. Cailin and Clarissa creep from their hiding places as Glenda encourages them to come and meet Dorothy.

Dorothy explains to the Munchkins how her house came to land on the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins then retell the story to us...."the house began to pitch, the kitchen to a slitch--it landed on the wicked witch in the middle of a ditch--which is not healthy situation for the wicked witch.....who began to twitch and was reduced to just a stitch of what was once a wicked witch!"

The Muchkins sing and dance about Dorothy..."Ding Dong the witch is dead, which o witch? The wicked witch. Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is dead! Wake up you sleepy head--rub your eyes get out of bed. Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is dead. She gone where the goblins go, below, below, below, yoho so open up and sing and ring the bells out...ding dong the merry o. Sing it high, sing it low--let them know the wicked witch is dead! "

The Mayor, Barrister and 2 Munchkins sing and welcome Dorothy and comtemplate the fact the the witch must be "certifiably dead" before more celebration could go on. Cailin's part was to sing.... that the witch was "spiritually, physically" dead. she had other 'one liners' to add. After one of the practices I asked both Connor and Cailin if they were enjoying themselves. Connor said he didn't want to do this again, he didn't like all the time contraints. Cailin however, said she loved being on stage, especially when the audience was big.

Okay, this picture is out of context, this is curtain call at the end of the show. Oops.

Here is the Lollipop Guild. "We represent Lollipop Guild, the lollipop guild, the lollipop guild and in the name of the lollipop guild, we welcome you today to muchkin land." (Technically this is out of order too, as this scene happened before the Mayor scene.)

Jared and Connor also got to play as one of the witch's flying monkey. They had a grand time running up and down the isles of the theather, jumping up and down from the stage, tearing apart the Scarecrow and harrasing the Tinman.

If you take all the improvisasion of the play going on here at the house and the contant singing of the songs by all the kids, I'd have to say this was a wonderful experience for them. Hopefully more will come our way....actually Cailin will be starting play practices for "Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" which will be performed in August. Stay tuned for more theathre fun. ( A special thanks to Jen and Toni for the extra pictures as mine didn't turn out so well.!)