There really is no place like home, even if that home is an eggplant farm in Guelph rather than the glamorous Torozto! Canadian Stage has taken up the torch of the annual holiday pantomime begun by Ross Petty 25 years ago. They’re reviving this beloved Toronto tradition with the aptly timed The Wizard of Oz: The Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical. Directed by Ted Dykstra and featuring several familiar faces of the Toronto scene and panto’s past, The Wizard of Oz is an absolute joy for the whole family!

Writer Matt Murray takes the story we all know and love and puts a uniquely Toronto spin on it! It’s Dorothy’s last day of High School, and instead of celebrating, she’s feeling rather lost about what she’s going to do with her life. The farmhands expect her to stay and one day run the eggplant farm, but she’s not sure that’s what she wants to do. Suddenly, a twister whips up and Dorothy, along with her friend Plumbum, are whisked away to the magical land of Torozto. There, Nastina (the wicked witch of the west) is trying to get a hold of the CN Power, a giant gem which powers all of Torozto. With the help of some new friends, Dorothy manages to meet the Wizard of Torozto and defeat the evil witch.

In true panto fashion, the songs used in The Wizard of Oz aren’t the classic ones from the film, rather they’re pop songs sure to delight audience members of all ages. From “Everybody’s Woking for the Weekend” to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” for the adults, and “What Was I Made For?” and “Hot To Go” for the younger audience members, there’s an ear worm for everyone. The numbers range from high-octane dance numbers to heartfelt ballads and each one showcases the immense talent we see on stage.

Two of our panto favourites return to the stage with The Wizard of Oz: Dan Chameroy as Plumbum and Eddie Glen as Scarecrow. Chameroy’s performance is side-splitting, with every double entendre he utters we laugh harder and harder. Glen somehow doesn’t age, and brings a cheer and vitality to his role. Julia Pulo stars as Dorothy; her vivacity and beautiful belting pop vocals make her a delight to watch. Vanessa Sears dazzles as Nastina the Witch. She really leans into this villain role and takes the “boos” from the audience like an absolute champ. Saphire Demitro is a sassy and fabulous Lion. Jonathan Cullen is a funny and intelligent Tin Man; his line about turning things off and on again slayed me. Andrew Broderick, Sierra Holder, Tyler Pearse, and Kirstyn Russelle comprise the ensemble of Toroztonians, farmhands, and minions. Their energy and comedic timing make them impossible to take your eyes off of. This is a truly phenomenal cast who give their whole selves to this production.

Adding to the incredible talent on stage is the exceptional talent behind the scenes who’ve created this magical world we all get to inhabit. Michael Gianfrancesco’s set design and Cameron Fraser’s projection design work in tandem to create the immersive experience we witness. Keep your eyes out in the transitions scenes for some wittily placed familiar faces. Ming Wong consistently outdoes herself with her costume designs. The costumes for The Wizard of Oz contain the elements and patterns we recognize, but brings them firmly into this decade. The Ruby Blundstones made me giggle every time they mentioned them (they are the one element of being a Torontonian I have yet to acquire). From Dorothy’s hint of gingham to the straw sticking out of the Scarecrow, it was all beautifully done and the attention to detail is evident throughout the production.

The Wizard of Oz: A Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical is perfect for the whole family. With plenty of audience interaction to keep the little ones engaged (and fun for the adults, too), this is a great way to create a theatre tradition with your family. I’m so thankful that the panto is back on stage; there’s something delightful and magical about spending an evening near the holidays cozy in a theatre, laughing along to some of the best talent the city has to offer. My theatre Christmas Wish this year is that Canadian Stage can keep this tradition going for many years to come.

The Wizard of Oz: A Toto-ly Awesome Family Musical runs at the Winter Garden Theatre until January 5. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.canadianstage.com/shows-events/season/wizard-of-oz

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Cover Photo: l-r: Dan Chameroy, Julia Pulo, Saphire Demitro, Jonathan Cullen, and Eddie Glen. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

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