The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Transcription

1 Playstage Junior The Wonderful Wizard of Oz An adaptation of the original Frank L.Baum story with suggested songs Written by Stewart Auty

2 1 CAST Policeman Dorothy Aunt Em Uncle Henry Toto (Dorothy s dog) Wicked Witch of the East (Non-speaking body only) Munchkin 1 Munchkin 2 Munchkin 3 Munchkin 4 Witch of the North (Dressed all in white) Scarecrow Tinman Lion Citizen 1 Citizen 2 Citizen 3 Citizen 4 Citizen 5 Guardian of the Gates 1 Guardian of the Gates 2 P.A. to the Wizard Voice of Wizard (off stage, big booming voice required, so could be an adult.) Wicked Witch of the West (Dressed all in black, as ugly and haggard as can be) Henchman 1 Henchman 2 Henchman 3 Henchman 4 (All in black, with masks) The Wizard of Oz 27 speaking parts, but Munchkins, Citizens and Henchmen could double if necessary. Nonspeaking parts could swell crowd scenes for musical numbers.

3 2 MUSIC Backing tracks can be purchased and downloaded for a modest fee from various sources, as shown below. Or, you could source the original artiste s recording from amongst parents/grandparents and just have the children sing along to it, as many schools do. If you cannot source them from amongst the school community, then Amazon sell very cheap downloadable MP3 tracks for hundreds of thousands of songs. These can be purchased, downloaded on to a computer and then burnt on to a CD for performance. Below we give the song title and source of backing tracks. Where it says Traditional or Disney this means there is no backing track we know of but it may be in sheet music form in your school or on a children s school music compilation CD. SUGGESTED SONGS: Home On The Range s standard - Busy Doing Nothing (Bing Crosby & others) - MP3 download from Raindrops Keep Falling On My head (Sacha Distel) - It s Not Easy Being Green (Kermit the Frog) - Let Em In (Wings) - Stand By Me (Ben E.King) - Happy Days Are Here Again (Piano Singalong) - Rainbow Connection (Kermit the Frog) -

4 3 SCENE 1 The front porch, Kansas. Opening Song Home on the Range (State song of Kansas!) (Whole cast, dressed as Kansas people. SEE PRODUCTION NOTES) Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam And the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day (Chorus)Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day How often at night when the heavens are bright With the light from the glittering stars Have I stood there amazed and I asked as I gazed If their glory exceeds that of ours (Chorus) Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free The breezes so balmy and light That I would not exchange my home on the range For all of the cities so bright (Chorus) Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day

5 4 (Music finishes and cast leave except for Uncle Henry asleep in rocking chair; Aunt Em knitting and Dorothy playing with her dolls. Toto, Dorothy s dog, is asleep by her feet. Dorothy has a canvas bag strung across her body. Enter Policeman, running) POLICEMAN Hey! You re not supposed to be outside! (TOTO Sits up, and growls) POLICEMAN Keep that dog away from me! Here Toto. He s a policeman. He s not here to attack us. POLICEMAN What are you doing outside? AUNT EM Well, if you re the observant sort, you will notice that I m knitting. Uncle Henry is asleep, although if you keep shouting, you ll wake him, that s for sure. And I m daydreaming. It might look as if I m doing nothing, but I m daydreaming. POLICEMAN I m not bothered what you re all doing! You re outside, that s what bothers me! AUNT EM And why shouldn t we be outside? It s a lovely day. Too nice to be indoors. POLICEMAN Look at the sky! Wouldn t you say it looked threatening? AUNT EM Now if I spent my time looking at the sky, why, I d drop all my stitches. But now you come to mention it, it does look a bit dark. POLICEMAN A bit dark? Haven t you been listening to the radio?

6 5 AUNT EM Radio s in the kitchen, and as you so correctly observed, we re outside. POLICEMAN There s been a warning about severe weather. There s a cyclone heading this way! You ve been cycling? POLICEMAN No time to get clever, young missy. The cyclone could be really dangerous. You all need to go inside, just to be safe. AUNT EM Dorothy, wake your Uncle Henry. Be gentle please. By the way he s been snoring, he must be miles away. (Shakes him gently) Uncle Henry. There s a policeman here. UNCLE HENRY A policeman? What on earth does he want? POLICEMAN I ve just been trying to explain, Sir. Perhaps you ll take more notice. There s a cyclone on the way. Look at the sky! UNCLE HENRY A cyclone, you say? Sounds bad! We d better go inside. POLICEMAN That s what I ve been trying to say. Go inside. Now. I need to warn the others! You take care now! (Runs off, followed by TOTO barking) Go away! Leave me alone! UNCLE HENRY It s come to something when a man can t have an after dinner nap without being disturbed. And by a policeman too! We d better do as he says. UNCLE HENRY I ll bring the cows into the barn and close the hen coop. AUNT EM I ll make sure all the windows are closed. Dorothy, you close the shutters too. We ll need all the protection we can find.

7 6 I d better look after Toto too. Little dog ll be scared stiff if there s a cyclone. You know what he s like when it thunders. AUNT EM Don t be too long. This cyclone sure sounds like trouble. You need to be indoors. Never mind Toto if you can t find him. Never mind Toto? Leave him outdoors, in a storm? AUNT EM He ll be alright Dorothy. Dogs know how to look after themselves. Don t be long before you come in. It s more important you re safe. (AUNT EM and UNCLE HENRY exit) Toto! Where are you? (TOTO appears) Have you been chasing rabbits again? Here Toto! There you are. Good boy! ( clutches TOTO as lights dim, thunder rumbles, lights flash etc) Oh my! Where can we go! The wind is so strong! ( and TOTO lean into the wind. Lights go out. calls in the darkness: Help! Aunty Em! Help! (A house goes whirling across the stage. Sound effect. (SEE PRODUCTION NOTES) END OF SCENE 1.

8 7 SCENE 2 Munchkinland, where everything is 50 shades of blue. is lying on the floor, with her arm around TOTO. There is a body of a witch dressed in black to one side, her upper half inside a house. Leading up to the back of the stage and off to the left is a yellow brick road. (SEE PRODUCTION NOTES) Enter MUNCHKINS. FIRST MUNCHKIN That witch is dead. She is deceased, I tell you. That witch is no more. Look! She s not moving. SECOND MUNCHKIN She certainly looks dead to me. I ll just check. THIRD MUNCHKIN Careful now! It could be a trick! She might just be pretending! FOURTH MUNCHKIN There s no telling what these wicked witches will get up to. SECOND MUNCHKIN I ll poke her with my stick! That s what I ll do! FIRST MUNCHKIN That s right! Keep your distance! Keep her at arms length! (SECOND MUNCHKIN pokes witch gently) SECOND MUNCHKIN She s definitely not moving! THIRD MUNCHKIN Poke her harder! Got to be sure! FOURTH MUNCHKIN Here. That s no use. I ve got a mirror let s see if she s breathing! Nope! Just like we thought! She s dead alright. FIRST MUNCHKIN Just like we hoped! The wicked witch is dead! ALL MUNCHKINS Hurray! The wicked witch is dead!

9 8 FOURTH MUNCHKIN How did she die? That s the question. SECOND MUNCHKIN She didn t die. FIRST MUNCHKIN So how come she s dead then? SECOND MUNCHKIN Let me finish. She didn t die! She was killed! (Broad Scottish accent) There s been a murder! THIRD MUNCHKIN Murdered? The wicked witch was murdered? SECOND MUNCHKIN Well, it might not actually be murder. But in the storm that flying house landed right on top of her. Flattened her, it did. Right before my very eyes. FOURTH MUNCHKIN Then you re a witness an eye witness! The authorities will want a statement from you. This is going to get all official. SECOND MUNCHKIN I can do without all that. FIRST MUNCHKIN Better to say we saw nothing. That s the easiest way. SECOND MUNCHKIN (Points to Dorothy) It was her house that came flying by. So it s her fault, so it s her responsibility. FOURTH MUNCHKIN She did it? She killed the wicked witch? THIRD MUNCHKIN Then we should thank her. Performed a public service, she did. The world will be a better place now the witch has gone. ( stirs, and sits up. TOTO growls) Where am I? And who are you? FIRST MUNCHKIN Before we tell you anything, we ve some questions to ask you.

10 9 I asked first, so you should answer me first. SECOND MUNCHKIN There s more of us, so you d better be careful. But I ve got a dog (Points to TOTO) and he s vicious, he s... he s... he s a guard dog, a trained killer, so it s you who had better watch out! (MUNCHKINS cower away as TOTO growls again) FOURTH MUNCHKIN OK. We ll tell you what you want to know. We re not arguing if you ve got a dog. We don t like dogs. He s lovely, really. He s a big softie! So who are you? And where am I? SECOND MUNCHKIN We re Munchkins, and you re in Munchkinland. Munchkinland? Never heard of it! Where on earth is Munchkinland? THIRD MUNCHKIN Have you thought it might not be on Earth? Not on Earth? How ridiculous. Everywhere s on earth. There s nowhere else. FIRST MUNCHKIN We re really pleased to see you. You ve done us a great favour! THIRD MUNCHKIN You ve killed the witch! Look over there! That s her body, and you killed her! I don t remember anything. I m sure I would remember if I had killed someone. FOURTH MUNCHKIN You didn t actually do it. It was your flying house. In the storm, it landed right on top of her and squashed her flat. Now I remember the storm. Are Aunt Em and Uncle Henry safe? Are they here too?

11 10 THIRD MUNCHKIN There s just you, and that vicious dog of course. But she is dead, and it s all down to you. Oh no! Now I ll be in trouble! You ve got to help me! FIRST MUNCHKIN You re not in trouble. We re glad she s dead! She scared everyone, and now she s gone, it s party time! I didn t mean any harm. The house must have been out of control in the storm. You can t blame me really. SECOND MUNCHKIN Blame you? We re proud of you! Here! (He pulls the witch s shoes off her feet and holds them out) Take her shiny red shoes as a souvenir! You deserve them for what you did. FOURTH MUNCHKIN Those shiny red shoes belonged to an evil, nasty and very scary witch. They re supposed to have magical powers. Magical powers might come in handy. ( puts on the shoes). I just want to get back to Kansas, to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. THIRD MUNCHKIN Where s Kansas? I ve never heard of it! It s just the place where I live, and I want to go back as soon as possible and see if everyone is alright. There was a cyclone, you know. FIRST MUNCHKIN We had the same terrible weather. But some good came from it! The wicked witch is dead! (MUNCHKINS all link hands and dance round chanting The witch is dead! The witch is dead! Everybody dance cause the witch is dead! ) Will you stop for a moment please? Tell me more about Munchkinland. It s not like any other place I ve been to. What do you do all day?

12 11 SONG Busy doing nothing. All the MUNCHKINS. La-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la We're busy doin' nothin' Workin' the whole day through Tryin' to find lots of things not to do We're busy goin' nowhere Isn't it just a crime? We'd like to be unhappy, but We never do have the time (Solo 1) I have to watch the river To see that it doesn't stop (Solo 2) And stick around the rosebuds So they'll know when to pop (Solo 3) And keep the crickets cheerful They're really a solemn bunch (All) Hustle, bustle And only an hour for lunch La-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la We're busy doin' nothin' Workin' the whole day through Tryin' to find lots of things not to do We're busy goin' nowhere Isn't it just a crime? We'd like to be unhappy, but We never do have the time (Solo 4) I have to meet a turtle I'm teachin' him how to swim (Solo 5) Then I have to shine the dewdrops You know they're looking rather dim

13 12 (Solo 6) I told my friend, the robin I'd buy him a brand new vest (All) Hustle, bustle We never do have We never do have We never do, never do Never do, never do, never do have the time Never do have the time! (MUSIC finishes and they all bow to ) That s all very well. Aunt Em always says that the devil makes work for idle hands. SECOND MUNCHKIN You weren t listening! We re not idle! We re busy doing nothing! Just like my Uncle Henry. When my Aunt Em asks him what he s doing today, he says Nothing. And when Aunt Em says You did that yesterday, Uncle Henry just chuckles and says I ain t finished yet! FOURTH MUNCHKIN Doing nothing takes a great deal of planning. It s not mindless, it s organised inactivity. Whatever. Now tell me more about Munchkinland. FIRST MUNCHKIN Munchkinland is ruled by four witches. THIRD MUNCHKIN But now you ve killed one, Munchkinland is ruled by three witches! I ve already said I m sorry. FIRST MUNCHKIN Don t interrupt! Do you want to know or what? FOURTH MUNCHKIN Two of the witches are bad, real bad. Two of the witches are good.

14 13 Which witch did I kill? Please don t tell me it was a good witch! SECOND MUNCHKIN You re in luck! You killed one of the bad witches! Didn t you notice her black clothes? (Enter WITCH OF THE NORTH dressed in white) WITCH OF THE NORTH I m the Witch of the North. Lucky for you, you didn t kill me. That flying house of yours only just missed me. You should be more careful! Looking at the way no one seems afraid of you, I d guess that you are one of the good witches? WITCH OF THE NORTH My white clothes should have been a clue. If ever you see a witch dressed all in black, you d better watch out! Seeing as you re a good witch, might I ask a favour? WITCH OF THE NORTH Ask away. I ll help if I can. I need to get back home, back home to Kansas. Can you help? WITCH OF THE NORTH Would, if I could, but I can t. Don t know where Kansas is, so can t help you get there. But I know a man who might be able to help. Is he here? Can he help me now? I d be ever so grateful! WITCH OF THE NORTH No such luck. He lives in the Emerald City, miles away from here. You need help from the all powerful, wonderful Wizard of Oz. A Wizard? I thought they only existed in fairy tales! WITCH OF THE NORTH He s real enough, but a bit of a recluse. Many have heard him speak, but few have met him.

15 14 But you think he might meet me? Do you think he might help me? WITCH OF THE NORTH Depends. It s worth a try. You ve no hope of getting home unless he takes kindly to you. You could at least point me in the right direction. WITCH OF THE NORTH Oh, that s simple. You see this track paved with golden blocks? Just follow the yellow brick road! Follow the yellow brick road! Follow the yellow brick road! I can remember that! It s easy! Thanks ever so much. You really are a good witch! WITCH OF THE NORTH You re wearing the shiny red shoes. They might come in useful. But they belonged to the Wicked Witch! And she s dead! WITCH OF THE NORTH They have magical powers you know. WITCH OF THE NORTH They fit as if they were meant for you. I m not sure about this. It s supposed to be bad luck to wear someone else s shoes, especially someone who has just died! WITCH OF THE NORTH You be careful now! Try to keep yourself safe and out of trouble! There may be trouble ahead! I ll do my best! I ve had enough of trouble for one day. Bye! Come on Toto, we re off to see the Wizard! (WITCH OF THE NORTH and MUNCHKINS exit. and TOTO walk along the yellow brick road and offstage.) END OF SCENE 2.

16 15 SCENE 3 In the countryside. The yellow brick road is in the same position. There is a standing in a stationary position to one side of the stage. On the other side of the stage is a tree with an oilcan underneath it. (SEE PRODUCTION NOTES) DOTOTHY enters with TOTO. I feel quite tired, Toto. We ll sit here and rest. It s been a funny old day already! Look Toto! I don t remember seeing that before. What a strange looking signpost. Signpost? I m not a signpost! I m a scarecrow! Well, you re very scruffy, even for a scarecrow. Scruffy! Me, scruffy? Charmed, I m sure. Even stranger, Toto. This scarecrow can speak! Now that s unusual! And why shouldn t I speak? But you re only a scarecrow. Scarecrows can t talk! Only a scarecrow indeed! And yes, much as it surprises you, I can speak. I ve got quite an extensive vocabulary if you must know. It s just that I ve never met a scarecrow before, never mind one that can talk. (TOTO goes to investigate, sniffs round scarecrow and begins to cock his leg) Oi!! Do you think you could keep your dog under control? I don t want the straw in my legs getting wet.

17 16 No Toto! Come here! Toto s harmless, and usually very well behaved. Shoo! Go away little doggie! I m a bit peckish. Luckily, I ve got some biscuits, and we can share them if you like Toto. (She rummages around in her bag and finds the biscuits.) Do I get a share? I haven t eaten for days. Here. Biscuits, my favourite snack. Mmm! Thank you. You could do me a favour and move this pole please. Since the farmer fixed it into the ground, I ve been stuck in one place. ( removes pole) Is that better? ( falls over) Oh dear! I ve never tried walking before.(he walks around in a wobbly legged way) You d better come and sit down... Oh, you do walk in a funny way! So would you if you d been kept still for a long time. I know what you mean. I can t keep still for a minute! My Aunt Em calls me a right shuffle bottom! I m just a bit stiff. I ll get the hang of it soon I hope.

18 17 ( falls over again and helps him up) You re balance isn t too good, is it? I just need a bit of practice. Hey! - Nice shiny red shoes! Thank you. I m not sure I should be wearing them. Doesn t seem right. Well, I must be off. Nice to have met you. (She starts back on the road again.) Now where do you think you re going, all alone, walking on this road? It isn t safe you know. Well if you must know, although I don t think it s any of your business, I m going to the Emerald City, to see the Wizard of Oz. I ve heard about him. Are you sure? No one has seen him for years. He s supposed to be a bit scary. Now you re beginning to frighten me. Why don t you think before speaking? Ah, now that s the problem. To think you need a brain, and in the brain department, I m somewhat lacking. I don t understand. Somewhat lacking? That s a bit of an understatement. I don t have a brain. The farmer who made me didn t think I needed one to stand out in a field in all weathers frightening the birds. Can t help you there, I m afraid. If you d let me, I could come with you. The Wizard of Oz, if we catch him on a good day, might be willing to help both of us. I could get back to Kansas.

19 18 And I could have a brain! To the Emerald City then. Oh, no! It s starting to rain! My straw will get all wet and I ll not be able to do a thing with my hair! Luckily for you, I ve brought an umbrella with me.(she rummages in her bag again and produces and umbrella, which she opens. and the sing and dance.) Song Raindrops keep falling on my head. Raindrops keep fallin' on my head And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed Nothin' seems to fit Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin' So I just did me some talkin' to the sun And I said I didn't like the way he got things done Sleepin' on the job Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin' But there's one thing I know The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me Raindrops keep fallin' on my head But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red Cryin's not for me 'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin' Because I'm free Nothin's worryin' me

20 19 (MUSIC finishes. Enter walking very stiffly. TOTO starts barking) Help me! Help me! My joints are seizing up! It s the rain! I get all rusty, and my joints seize up! We should help, if we can. Tell us what to do. Tell us how to help you. There s an oilcan somewhere around. I have to keep one with me in case I start to get rusty after rain. And it always seems to be raining. I see it! Here it is! XYZ90! Where do you want it! (gesticulates) Head and shoulders, Knees and toes! Knees and toes! (All sing) Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes (etc) There! Does that feel any better? My elbows and my ankles too, if you don t mind. How s that? Oh, ding dong! That feels so good. I can feel the movement coming back into my joints. Thank you so much. Ding dong! What s all this ding dong? I say that when I get excited, when things are going really well. Hey! Nice shiny red shoes!

21 20 I ve already said that. She s not happy wearing them. Glad we could help. But we need to get going now. Where are you going in such a rush? No time to spend the time of day with me? Life s too short to be dashing about everywhere. We re going to see the Wizard. We need his help. The Wizard of Oz? In the Emerald City? You ve heard of him then? Yes. Catch him in a good mood, and he s a lovely fella, or so they say. The trouble is, he s never in a good mood! Well I need his help to get back to Kansas. And I want a brain. Well, I need a heart. So perhaps I should come with you? Very well. We re all going to see the Wizard, but for different reasons. (Loud roar offstage. TOTO starts barking) What was that? (Enter LION. Toto barks again, and LION yelps and lays down on his back in submission. TOTO keeps barking and rushing up to the LION who starts whimpering.)

22 21 (grabbing TOTO s collar and hauling him back.) Toto! Leave him alone! (to the LION) Toto won t hurt you! You re a lion for goodness sake! LION(sits up) Don t be frightened you say? But I m not a scary lion! That s just the problem. I m supposed to be the king of the jungle, and I m a bit of a scaredy cat. (TOTO barks again and LION immediately lies back down, whimpering) Don t say cat. Toto hates cats! For a big cat, you don t look very frightening! You need to have presence. You need to be brave! Come on! Man up! LION I can t. It s not in my nature. I m a very gentle soul really. Then you need to come with us. Come and see the Wizard. Ask him to make you brave. Anybody can change if they want to. LION Sounds good to me. I d like to be brave. Count me in! And I do like your shiny red shoes! Will you all shut up about my shiny red shoes? Now, all together! We re off to see the Wizard! The wonderful Wizard of Oz! (They all link arms and go along the yellow brick road and off the stage.) END OF SCENE 3.

23 22 SCENE 4 The Emerald City. Everything is in fifty shades of green. CITIZENS are milling about, shopping and talking to each other. They are all wearing sunglasses. The Emerald Palace doors are at the back of the stage. (SEE PRODUCTION NOTES) The GUARDIANS are standing either side of the gates with spears. SONG It s not easy being green. (GLEE) Sung by the CITIZENS It's not that easy being green Having to spend each day as a colour of the leaves When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold Or something much more colourful like that It's not that easy being green It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things And people tend to pass you over Cause you're not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water Or stars in the sky But green's the colour of spring And green can be cool and friendly-like And green can be big like an ocean Or important like a mountain Or tall like a tree When green is all there is to be It could make you wonder why But, why wonder why? Wonder, I'm green and it'll do fine It's beautiful and I think it's what I wanna be All the colours have changed. Everything in Munchkinland was fifty shades of blue.

24 23 I think the clue is in the title. Emerald City just got to be green, hasn t it? Have you noticed? Everyone is wearing sunglasses. We d better ask what s going on. I know! There s going to be an eclipse, that s why they need glasses! Perhaps they ve all got 3D televisions! CITIZEN 1 You re curious about the glasses, aren t you? CITIZEN 2 We wear them all the time outside. CITIZEN 5 The glare from the palace gets stronger if you go closer. Well we need to go closer. CITIZEN 1 Then you ll need some glasses. We need to go right inside. We re going to meet the Wizard. CITIZEN 3 Meet the Wizard? Fat chance! I ve lived here all my life and I ve never set eyes on him. CITIZEN 4 We ve heard him lots of times though. CITIZEN 5 The Wizard has a speaker system throughout the palace and he makes public announcements every day. CITIZEN 1 Sometimes twice a day, if you re very lucky. But what does he say in these announcements? Anything important?

25 24 CITIZEN 3 They re always important, otherwise he wouldn t say it. CITIZEN 2 Just to hear his voice, you know someone of great standing is speaking. CITIZEN 5 Such a loud, commanding voice, showing great authority. LION Sounds like he s got presence. Just what I need. CITIZEN 1 (aside) Have you seen her shoes? They re red! And shiny! CITIZEN 2 Shiny red shoes mean that she s a witch - a wicked, evil nasty witch! I heard that! I m not a witch! CITIZEN 3 You sure look like a witch, wearing shiny red shoes! Stop going on about my shiny red shoes! Now you said something about glasses? CITIZEN 1 I ll take you to the Guardians. That s them over there, by the entrance. You ll need to knock on the door, or ring the bell. Song Let em in (Wings). Sung by the CITIZENS. Someone's Knockin' At The Door. Somebody's Ringin' The Bell. Someone's Knockin' At The Door. Somebody's Ringin' The Bell. Do Me A Favour, Open The Door And Let 'Em In. Sister Suzie, Brother John, Martin Luther, Phil And Don, Brother Michael, Auntie Gin, Open The Door And Let 'Em In.

26 25 Someone's Knockin' At The Door. Somebody's Ringin' The Bell. Someone's Knockin' At The Door. Somebody's Ringin' The Bell. Do Me A Favour, Open The Door And Let 'Em In. CITIZEN 4 These people are visitors. They ve come to see the Wizard. (Aside) Look! She s wearing shiny red shoes. GUARDIAN 2 Shiny red shoes? Is she a witch? CITIZEN 4 She s denied it, but better be careful. I m not sure. (CITIZENS all exit) GUARDIAN 1 Halt! We are the Guardians of the Gates. GUARDIAN 2 Who goes there? Friend or foe? If I might say, that s a bit of a pointless challenge. GUARDIAN 2 We re instructed to say those exact words. We ve been on a course, we ve had training. The point my friend is trying to make is this: If I was a foe, to use your own word, would I admit to it when challenged? GUARDIAN 1 I see what you mean. I ve never thought of it like that before. If I was a foe, which I hasten to add, I m not, I would probably lie. And say I was a friend.

27 26 GUARDIAN 1 You re right. Everybody says friend when challenged. GUARDIAN 2 Because if they said foe, we would have to shoot them. So your challenge was pointless. GUARDIAN 1 So what should we say? GUARDIAN 2 Our orders are to challenge all who approach. Orders direct from the Wizard, our all powerful, all seeing leader. You keep saying he s powerful, but also that he s invisible. Evidently, no one has ever seen the wonderful wizard. So how do you know? GUARDIAN 1 It s common knowledge. Everyone knows. That s just how it is. GUARDIAN 2 Look, we can t just let you in. Anyway, you re not wearing the required glasses. Does everyone have to wear them? GUARDIAN 2 Oh, yes. A decree from on high, so to speak. There was a public announcement reminding us only the other day. GUARDIAN 1 It s Health and Safety, you know. So where do we get them from? Do we have to pay? Do we have to have an eye test or something? GUARDIAN 2 No test required. And you get them from us, and they re free. Help yourself from the box. ( selects a pair for herself, the, the and the LION).

28 27 How do I look? Should have gone to Specsavers! Ding dong! There. We ve complied with the regulations. Can we come in now? GUARDIAN 1 You three may enter, but not that mangy lion or that little dog. LION Mangy lion? I resemble that remark! But they re our friends. We have travelled together. Dorothy and her little dog are inseparable. And that mangy lion as you so unfairly describe him? He s with us too. GUARDIAN 2 We don t normally allow animals another decree from the wizard. GUARDIAN 1 But as you re together, we ll make an exception. GUARDIAN 2 Just this once, mind. It wouldn t do to set a precedent. GUARDIAN 1 You d better find the dog some glasses too. There! Will that do now? We re all kitted out with glasses. Even Toto. GUARDIAN 2 And if I might say, you ve made a proper spectacle of yourselves! Now will you stand aside, and let us pass please? GUARDIAN 1 Yes, you may pass through the gates and enter the Emerald City. Once inside, you must see the Wizard s P.A. to make an appointment.

29 28 (GUARDIANS push aside the gates and push them off the stage. The interior of the Palace is revealed. SEE PRODUCTION NOTES)) P.A.? You really do need a brain! P.A. is a Personal Assistant. Someone else to control access to the wizard. (Enter P.A. with a clipboard.) GUARDIAN 1 Take care! Look at her shiny red shoes! (Exit GUARDIAN) P.A. I had noticed the shiny red shoes. I understand you have travelled to meet the Wizard? Yes, that s the general idea. P.A. Might I ask for what reason? Impromptu or unscheduled visits are not encouraged. It is usual to write a formal letter requesting a meeting at least two weeks in advance. We didn t know we needed to see him two weeks ago. We re visitors you see. P.A. And the purpose of your visit today? We each have different reasons for needing to see the Wizard. P.A. Just wait. This is most unusual. I will have to take advice on this. (Exit P.A.)

30 29 Who s she going to ask? I think she s training to be a Doctors receptionist. They shall not pass is their motto. That s why they re called patients. You have to be patient, as you could be waiting for hours. Ding dong! She s coming back. I bet she went away, and hid round the corner for a few minutes. (Enter P.A.) P.A. I ve taken advice, and I regret to say that it will be impossible for you to meet the Wizard today. You must write, as I explained, or send an if you prefer. I told you about the Doctors! In two weeks, you re either better, or dead! Either way, the health professionals are not bothered by patients. Could you make an exception, please? It s very important. Pretty please? (Pauses) Pretty please, with a cherry on top? P.A. I m sorry, but I have explained. It s out of the question, I m afraid. Rules are rules. This is so disappointing. The Witch of the North said the Wizard would help. P.A. The Witch of the North? She recommended you? Why didn t you say? Wait here, and I ll see what I can do. (Exit P.A.)

31 30 More waiting! Should we tell them about you killing the Wicked Witch? But that was an accident! We don t need to say anything about that! She s coming back! She s been hiding round the corner again! (Enter P.A.) P.A. The Wizard is prepared to make an exception. He will see you, but only one at a time, so who s going first? LION I c c can t go in f f first! I m s s so s s scared! I haven t the heart to go in now. And I wouldn t know what to say, because I haven t got a brain! Oh! I suppose it will have to be me. I ll go in first. Come on Toto. P.A. No dogs. I m afraid that s out of the question. Alone means alone, by yourself, unaccompanied. But we go everywhere together. We re inseparable! P.A. Not this time. Alone or not at all. It s make you mind up time. LION You stop with me Toto. I ll look after you. I bet this wizard is frightened of animals.

32 31 P.A. Follow me. The rest of you should wait. More waiting! It s all we seem to do! (The P.A. takes up to an empty throne. There is a screen behind the throne. SEE PRODUCTION NOTES.) P.A. Your Majesty! The girl traveller is here to see you. There s no one here! Where is he? Where s this wonderful wizard? P.A. Our leader, the wonderful Wizard of Oz is here. He is omnipresent. Omni-what? P.A. Omnipresent! The wizard is here, but he is so powerful, he has made himself invisible. But make no mistake, he is here, he is there, he is everywhere, so beware. Be careful what you say. VOICE (from offstage - big, booming voice) You may go. (Exit P.A.) It s not easy speaking to someone I can t see. Where are you, Your Majesty? VOICE Weren t you listening? I m here, I m there, I m everywhere. You do not need to see me. I can see you, and that s all that matters. The Witch of the North said that you could help us. VOICE A bit of name dropping works wonders. I hope you appreciate that I don t usually see people without an appointment.

33 32 We are very grateful that on this occasion you made an exception for us. VOICE A bit of grovelling works wonders too! Now, if I am to help you, you must help me. That s only fair, you agree? Depends on what you want us to do. VOICE I heard about your little encounter with the Wicked Witch of the East. That was an accident! I never meant her any harm. VOICE You did us all a favour. Horrible woman! I also notice that you re wearing her shiny red shoes. Why does everyone keep mentioning these shiny red shoes? VOICE They give out a message, a secret signal, that you re powerful too. I don t know about that. I m just an ordinary girl from Kansas. VOICE Ordinary? I think not. You re not a witch, by any chance? Most certainly not! VOICE But you cannot deny you killed the Wicked Witch of the East. Not intentionally! How many times do I have to say that? If I m to return to Kansas, what do you want? VOICE There were two wicked witches. You ve killed one so now kill the other. Simple! Kill someone? Deliberately? I tell you it was an accident!

34 33 VOICE Do it! No help unless you do. Go now, and send in your friends. Send them in together. I haven t got all day. ( goes over to the side of the stage and mimes that the others should go over to the throne. They do so.) VOICE I am very busy, and also very tired. What do you want? Where is he? There s no one here! Go on! Say something! VOICE Stop muttering! Someone say something! Tell me what you want. It s very intimidating standing here talking to an empty throne. After all, you re a wizard! VOICE May I remind you that I m a wonderful wizard? The wonderful wizard of Oz? We need some help. That s why we re here. VOICE So you think I can help? We hope so, your Wizardship. VOICE Now if I promise to help, there will be something you will have to do for me in return. So, what do you want? A farmer made me, out of wood and straw. He never thought to give me a brain. So that is what I would like, if it s not too much trouble. VOICE Next!

35 34 I was made out of tin, cold and heartless, so I would like a heart please. VOICE Next! LION Look at me! I m supposed to be the king of the jungle, and I m as timid as a mouse. I need to be brave and fearless. Can you help? VOICE Brains, heart and courage? Inner qualities which define character. The ability to think, care for others and face up to danger. I may be able to help after all. I think that s wonderful, Mr Wizard. Or at least I would if I had a brain. VOICE I will make the same agreement with you that I made with your young lady friend. Then you will help? Ding dong! VOICE Kill the Wicked Witch of the West, and I will help. That s all I have to say. Go now, and do not return unless the Wicked Witch of the West is dead! And less of the ding dong! (The P.A. enters.) P.A. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Your audience with the wonderful Wizard of Oz is over. Please let yourself out the way that you came in. (The PA pushes the throne off the stage and exits.the screen remains.) Did he ask you to do the same thing he asked me to do? Kill the Wicked Witch of the West? (Everyone nods)

36 35 I don t think I can do such a horrible thing. But you killed the Wicked Witch of the East! I keep telling everyone that was an accident. I don t think I can deliberately kill anyone, even if they are a wicked witch. But I so much want to get back to Kansas and Aunty Em. We ll have to help each other. Song Stand by Me (The Walker brothers and others) Sung by, TIN MAN, and LION. When the night has come And the land is dark And the moon is the only light we'll see No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me Stand by me, stand by me If the sky that we look upon Should tumble and fall And the mountains should crumble to the sea I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear Just as long as you stand, stand by me And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

37 36 (MUSIC finishes and they exit.) END OF SCENE 4.

38 37 Scene 5 - Encounter with the Witch (The four travellers and TOTO meet in front of the Witch s Castle. is carrying a bottle of water and a dog bowl) Well, it s now or never. Kill the witch! Even if she s as evil as everyone says, I don t know if I can go that far. It doesn t seem right, no matter how bad she is. Look, we ve come all this way. We need his help. Perhaps we can reason with this witch. Appeal to her better nature. There s some good in everyone if you look far enough. LION What would you have her do? We might persuade her to leave the country, go into self-imposed exile. We could pretend she was dead. But this wizard seems to know everything. Trying to trick him might not work. I m not taken in by that Wizard. Something s not right. Like crazy paving, I don t think he s all he s cracked up to be! Look, I know I m not very bright, but before we can deal with the problem, we ve first got to find her. I wonder where she is. (WICKED WITCH and 4 HENCHMEN come around either side of the door. Sound effect.of a thunder clap)

39 38 WICKED WITCH Haha! You don t need to find me! I ve found you! Henchmen! Surround them! Let no one escape! (HENCHMEN surround them, prodding them with sticks. TOTO snaps and growls) Let s not be too hasty! Let s talk about this! WICKED WITCH Talk? Talk? After what you did to my sister? You killed her! The Wicked Witch of the East was your sister? WICKED WITCH Yes! You killed her, and I m here for revenge! But it was an accident! Why will no one listen to me? It was nothing to do with us! We met her afterwards! You have no gripe with us! WICKED WITCH You re guilty by association! You re all in this together. LION Hang on a minute guys! We re not going to let Dorothy face this alone. You re a fine one to talk! Where s this courage come from all of a sudden? LION Sometimes you just have to face up to things. Dorothy s our friend, and I for one will stand alongside her. WICKED WITCH This solidarity makes no difference to me. No one is going anywhere. HENCHMAN 1 We can melt that tin man down, Your Witchiness, and make him into something more useful.

40 39 HENCHMAN 3 Like a watering can! HENCHMAN 2 That scarecrow would make a lovely hat stand in my hallway, Your Witchiness.. HENCHMAN 3 And that lion? We could have him stuffed and put him in the museum. Believe me, Lion, it s no fun being stuffed! HENCHMAN 4 That little dog I think we ll keep him. HENCHMAN 1 If our mission statement in life is to be a nuisance, that dog will be a riot in the Emerald City! HENCHMAN 3 Especially as the Wizard hates dogs! HENCHMAN 4 Particularly little snappy ones! (TOTO growls and snaps at the HENCHMEN) Come here Toto! Look I ve some water for you! (Begins to pour from the flask) WICKED WITCH (Advancing slowly towards ) That s a lovely pair of shiny red shoes, you re wearing, little girl. My sister had a pair just like them. Tell me, where did you get them? Were they a souvenir by any chance? Keep back! Don t come any closer! WICKED WITCH Or else what my dear? I m the Wicked Witch remember? Or else... (Throws water from flask at WITCH.) WICKED WITCH Aaaargh! Water! The only thing against which I have no protection! I m done for! (WITCH collapses in the most theatrical way)

41 40 HENCHMAN 1 You ve killed the Witch! You shouldn t have done that! Ding dong! The witch is dead! HENCHMAN 4 How could she do that! She s only a girl! I didn t mean to! How was I to know about her fear of water? It s not like there was any soap or anything! HENCHMAN 2 Scarper lads! If she can kill the witch, what will she do to us! HENCHMAN 3 Every henchman for himself! (HENCHMEN flee) That s her sorted. Well done Dorothy! I didn t mean to harm her. Just like before, it was an accident! Still, you ve done what the Wizard wanted. Now both wicked witches are dead. Oz will be a better place now they re gone. The Wizard must be grateful, so he should keep his side of the bargain and help us. LION We need to return to the Emerald City and claim our reward. (They all exit.) END OF SCENE 5.

42 41 Scene 6 Outside the Palace of Oz again. Two GUARDIANS of the gate stand guard; Enter CITIZENS. Song - Happy days are Here Again (piano singalong) Sung by CITIZENS. So long sad times Go along bad times We are rid of you at last Howdy gay times Cloudy grey times You are now a thing of the past Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of cheer again Happy days are here again Altogether shout it now There's no one Who can doubt it now So let's tell the world about it now Happy days are here again Your cares and troubles are gone There'll be no more from now on From now on... Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So, Let's sing a song of cheer again Happy times Happy nights Happy days Are here again! CITIZEN 1 Have you heard the news? CITIZEN 2 Yes! I saw it on Facebook! The Wicked Witch is dead!

43 42 CITIZEN 3 That girl Dorothy knew she had a weakness. CITIZEN 4 The Wicked Witch perished all because the little doggy wanted a drink. CITIZEN 5 Fancy having no protection against water! What sort of a witch has a weakness for water? CITIZEN 2 It wasn t just ordinary water. That Dorothy s a witch too! Remember her shiny red shoes? CITIZEN 2 So she must have given the water some magical powers! CITIZEN 3 Dorothy was very clever to outwit the witch. She s been a nuisance for years. CITIZEN 4 Now she s gone, the Wizard will be pleased. He s been wanting rid of her but didn t know how to do it. CITIZEN 5 I could never understand how he didn t deal with the witch himself, what with him being a wonderful wizard and all that. CITIZEN 3 I heard the Wizard promised to reward her if she killed the witch. CITIZEN 1 So she did plan it, after all! So much for her claiming it was an accident! CITIZEN 2 Well, I heard the Wizard gave them an impossible task, hoping that they would fail. CITIZEN 4 But now they ve succeeded, he s got to keep his promise. CITIZEN 5 Here they come now! (Everyone cheers as,,, LION and TOTO enter.) What a welcome! That witch must have been really wicked!

44 43 We ve done what the Wizard wanted. Now for our reward! Ding dong! GUARDIAN 1 The Wizard has been expecting you. LION No challenge? No friend or foe? GUARDIAN 2 We know now that you are true friends. Here is the Wizard s P.A. (Enter P.A.) P.A. No need for an appointment! Let me take you inside. The Wizard has been waiting for you to return. GUARDIAN 1 You don t know how much better our lives will be; now both wicked witches are dead. GUARDIAN 2 We owe you all a great favour. We will be forever in your debt. I keep telling you that it was another accident! GUARDIAN 1 It must be something about those shiny red shoes. They have served you well. P.A. It s time to step inside. (The GUARDIANS push away the doors and exit. All the CITIZENS leave. Throne room appears empty, but the Wizard is behind the screen.) VOICE Well well! Who would have thought it?

45 44 I didn t mean to kill her. VOICE You didn t mean to? So you will not be claiming your reward. Whatever the intention, the outcome is that the witch is dead. That is what you wanted, so we deserve your help. Promises are promises. VOICE The brains, heart and courage you wanted, I do not need to give. You discovered them for yourselves when you stood by Dorothy. Well thank you, Mr Wizard. I feel so much better now. Now I have found my heart, I feel different a better person! Ding dong! VOICE And you lion, you showed the greatest courage. LION How can you know that? VOICE You forget that I am omnipresent. I m here, I m there, I m everywhere, so beware! LION So you saw it all? VOICE You Mr Lion stood by Dorothy when she needed support, you were there. You were the first to show courage. You had it all the time. And my reward? You can help me get back home to Kansas? VOICE That will be more difficult. Let me think. (TOTO sniffs round, exploring, and pushes away the screen, revealing the WIZARD, ironing. He has a karaoke microphone on the side of the ironing board.)

46 45 WIZARD (using the microphone for this line.) I knew it was a mistake to let you bring your dog in here. You do your own ironing? WIZARD (not using microphone any more) Only reluctantly. Needs must. A man s got to do what a man s got to do. You d be quite a catch if ever you decided to get married. WIZARD Now steady on! Let s not be too hasty! But you re so... ordinary! You re not like a wizard at all! WIZARD A little deception on my part, that s all. And your voice! It s just, well, it s just so normal. What happened to the voice of authority? WIZARD Ah, the wonders of technology. My friends found what they were looking for inside themselves. But that doesn t help me. WIZARD I need to keep my secret, to keep up my little pretence. Your friends could stay here in the palace and help me. What a wizard idea! Ding dong! I ll stay here, no worries about that. LION I ve taken a liking to this land of Oz. But if we stay, you ve got to help Dorothy get back to Kansas. Why anyone would want to go back there beats me.

47 46 Because it s my home, it s where I belong. But you have no magic powers. Your magic powers, they re an illusion, just smoke and mirrors really. WIZARD But there is a way out. Those shiny red shoes, Dorothy. I see you are still wearing them. I m fed up with everyone talking about my shiny red shoes. I think I m going to take them off! WIZARD Don t be too hasty! What did the Good Witch tell you? That they had magic powers, and one day that would come in useful. WIZARD That day has come Dorothy. Today, you will return to Kansas. Now help me put the screen back, so the deception may continue! ( and position screen. WIZARD goes behind it and VOICE resumes booming once again) VOICE Citizens of Oz! You are commanded to assemble in the palace grounds immediately, as Dorothy is leaving! (Enter full cast) But what do I do? How can these shiny red shoes help me get back home? VOICE Click your heels, Dorothy, three times, and on the third click, if everyone shouts Back Home! you ll be on your way! It s worth a try! Goodbye everyone! ALL Goodbye Dorothy!

48 47 Here goes! Fingers crossed everybody! ( does three clicks with her heels) ALL (shouting) Back home! (Stage plunges into darkness, exit everyone; curtains close) END OF SCENE 6.

49 48 Scene 7 - The Front Porch in Kansas. After the cyclone. The two chairs are upended and there are bits of twigs and leaves scattered about. AUNT EM and UNCLE HENRY are standing peering out into the audience. AUNT EM is holding a pie in her hands. AUNT EM Where can that girl have got to? UNCLE HENRY The cyclone has passed, and fortunately we ve had little damage. AUNT EM So where is she then? (Enter ) UNCLE HENRY Where on earth have you been? Oh, Uncle Henry, I don t think I ve been anywhere on earth! But I m sure glad to be back home! AUNT EM Well I knew you wouldn t be long, so in the meantime, I ve baked your favourite pie. Why, that pie looks enormous, Aunt Em. UNCLE HENRY (With a twinkle in his eye) I wonder how heavy it is Dorothy. It sure looks a beauty! Now where would I take it to find out, Uncle Henry? UNCLE HENRY We both know the answer to that, don t we Dorothy! UNCLE HENRY and together Somewhere over the rainbow! AUNT EM Somewhere over the rainbow?

50 49 UNCLE HENRY and together Weigh a pie! (Curtains open to reveal full cast on stage for final song) Song : Rainbow Connection (The Muppets) Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide. So we've been told and some choose to believe it. I know they're wrong, wait and see. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me. Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that and someone believed it. Look what it's done so far. What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing and what do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me. All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic. Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name. Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors. The voice might be one and the same. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me. THE END

51 50 PRODUCTION NOTES FOR THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ COSTUMES Please note that the images below are images to help you create your own costumes. Although we give the source of the ready-made costumes, we are not in any way suggesting that you purchase them. These images are just to give you ideas. NOTES ABOUT COSTUMES NOT ILLUSTRATED HERE: In MUNCHKINLAND, everyone can basically wear anything as long as it is all in shades of blue. In the EMERALD CITY, everyone can wear anything, again, but as long as it s in shades of green. All the Emerald City characters need sunglasses. The KANSAS POLICEMAN can be dressed like a cowboy sheriff. Dorothy Amazon Wizard Amazon