====================================================================== ] c/ \ /___\ *** THE OZZY DIGEST, JUNE 28 - JULY 3, 2000 *** |@ @| | V | \\\ |\_/| | ;;; \-/ \ ;/ >< ] Everyone ready to watch _The Wizard of Oz_ tonight? :) (TCM 8PM EDT) ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 18:59:35 -0400 (EDT) From: "Mark Donajkowski" Subject: OZ ON TV GUIDE COVER 4 DIFFERNT COVERS!!!!! THIS WEEKS JUST HIT THE STAND 4 COVERS DORTHY SCARECROW LION TIN MAN ====================================================================== From: Orange5193@aol.com Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 19:53:38 EDT Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-26-2000 Ruth Berman writes: > Mark Donajkowski: Thanks for supplying Jim Whitcomb's timeline on the 1939 > movie. On the question of whether the movie could have been improved by > keeping in some of the material that was filmed or scripted -- I'd agree > that most of the omissions were probably better off omitted. (I'm especially > glad to do without "the Jitterbug," which was boring as a song, and looked > tedious in the bit of "home movie" footage that has survived and was shown > on tv a few years back.) The Scarecrow's dance solo, though, included as an > appendix now on some versions of the movie, is impressive. The producers > might have been right in feeling that it stopped the story too long and > needed to be cut, but my feeling from seeing it (even though not seeing it > in the context of the scene as a whole) is that it might have been a better > idea to keep it in, and trust to the interesting choreography to hold > attention. > Ruth Berman Actually, looking back 61 years later, it's better that the Scarecrow dance was cut, mainly because the dance music for the number, (like "The Jitterbug") is rather rife with 'swing' elements, while the rest of the score and arrangements tend toward a more 'timeless' musical comedy style. If the score as a whole had been more eclectic in style, the two numbers might have worked, but as things are, they're both rather jarring. Perhaps if the arrangement underlying the dance had been more fitting, I'd be all for reinserting it (with the cut song material). It's really too bad, because the way the film was cut, the 'ding-a-derry' ending comes in a tad too awkwardly for my taste; even as a child, I sensed there was something missing there. Aaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnd, for those in reasonable proximity to the Toronto area this Decembler, the Civic Light Opera Company will be premiering "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: An Imaginary Extravaganza" (working title), book by Joe Cascone, music & lyrics by your humble co-OD'er, moi. While there are some minor alterations to the story structure due to stage requirements, it will indeed include Kalidahs, the Golden Cap, 2 Good Witches, singing Field Mice and Monkeys, a multi-aspect Wizard, Hammerheads etc, etc and so forth. I'm exceedingly happy to say the casting call for Dorothy states emphatically 'under 13 years'. :) And oh, yes, the slippers, they're silver, and that is locked in the lyrics (with the key tossed down a pit whose location is on the one single copy of a map I just used to start the barbecue). James P. Doyle ====================================================================== From: Ozmama@aol.com Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 00:04:31 EDT Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-26-2000 In a message dated 6/27/00 5:17:47 PM Central Daylight Time, OzDigest@mindspring.com writes: << Robin: I am not a regular contributor to the Digest, but I will be coming to the Centennial Convention. I look forward to meeting those of you who carry on this fascinating dialogue. >> Bea, I'm so glad you'll be at the convention. One of these days, I'll make it to Aberdeen for your celebration. Seems to me I have a standing offer for a roommate there, right, Ruth? :) The Aberdeen Oz Festival sounds marvelous. I hope some of the _Digesters_ can make it up there. Gili's coming back to us!!!! Yee haw, y'all. It's family reunion time! Gili, your fiance is a brave soul, facing all of us Ozzies. He does understand, doesn't he, that we expect him to be nothing short of spectacular, since he's snagged himself such a super gal? It looks like quite a few of us will be in Bloomington. That's terrific! (So who's gonna make the "I'm a 'Digester' " badges?!) John Bell:<> I never thought about it that way. You might want to ask Fred Meyer about that at convention. He might know. I do know that R&L wasn't thrilled with R.P.T. by then, since she'd published a children's book--I think it probably was _King Kojo_--with the David McKay Co. in Philadelphia; the story goes something like R.P.T.'s having inserted advertising flyers in her Oz fan mail for that non-Reilly & Lee book. I'm fuzzy on the details and may have it just a bit scrambled. Anyone remember this more clearly than I? <