Ok, a bit of my history with Wizard of Oz is likely in order. I was a winged monkey in the Department of Defense’s Camp Walker Community Theater-Taegu, South Korea production of the show some 30 years ago. I had a bit part where my wings were painted with florescent paint that really glowed well under black lights. It was one of my first forays into theater and remains one of my best childhood memories.



So I just had to see how Tacoma Musical Playhouse was going to produce the grandeur of the show with such a small stage. It had staged shows with more elaborate scenes in the past, but it still seemed like the flips from Kansas to the Land of Oz would be a challenge. I was certain TMP could do it if it could be done.



I have to say that my expectations were not satisfied.



I expected more than painted muslin and plywood forests. There was a time during the show when side-mounted projectors showed the tornado scenes on the walls to add a level of dimension and drama, but even that seemed odd because the walls are slanted so the scene was a bit distorted. Nice effect, poor execution.



But I could say that for most of the show.



I think the individual actors did well with their iconic character, but the totality of the show seemed to drag with length and energy.



Taylor Neimeyer was convincing and powerful in the role of Dorothy, while Steve Barnett landed a solid performance as the Scarecrow. All of the principal performances were good, not great. I wanted great. I expected great. This theater has been on fire in the last few years, so maybe my expectations were unrealistic. The show just didn’t jell. It didn’t have that little something-something that makes shows work. Maybe they weren’t having fun. Maybe it was an off night for a mid-run performance. Maybe it was the heat.



I thought maybe I was being too harsh with the show when thoughts of writing this review rattled around my head, so I chatted with my 9-year-old daughter who came with me. She liked the show but wasn’t wowed. She also wanted to be wowed. She liked the projection screen and thought the munchkins were cute. But she felt the show ran long and could have been cut down in several areas. She even made a list of times when the director could have shaved a few minutes off here and there to keep the show going. She is my daughter, after all, and has likely seen more theater than many adults. I still have that list if TMP wants to look at it.



[Tacoma Musical Playhouse, through Aug. 2, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $18-$25, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867, TMP.org]