On Friday, March 22, 2024 and March 23, 2024, the Toll Gate drama club put on a production of The Wizard of Oz, a fan favorite. The show was a success and the audience enjoyed some funny moments, memorable lines and overall, being able to witness the Toll Gate drama club interpret the classic film. Regardless of how well received the performances were, this production did not go on without bumps in its yellow brick road.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Lulu Ferri, the student director of the play, to talk about different ups and downs of the play. One of the issues on the nights of the show was the time between each scene change. What was going on behind the curtain?
Lulu Ferri: “…backstage had issues moving certain sets, because our advisor, Mr. Hodge, built some very beautiful sets. The only problem was that a lot of them were very heavy, and moving them especially, across a slippery wooden stage. Definitely could have used more rehearsing, but I don’t blame that on any of these people. Like, if you asked me to move some of these sets, it wouldn’t have gone nearly as well, like these people are still rockstars. And once again, the whole walkies being broken, I should have checked that beforehand.”
The major difficulties started with two major characters quitting the show on Monday of the first tech week, which was two weeks before the opening night.
Ferri: “…it wasn’t even just the main two that dropped out, there was another person too. And, that person they didn’t reach out, but what I later found out was that they dropped out to be in a show with Academy Players, which I don’t blame them for, it’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s just, I wish they had told me. I totally understand, I just want people to say, ‘Hey, I got an opportunity I can’t pass up’. And that’s what one of the main characters did for me, which I really appreciated. And I don’t have any ill will, I get it, personal stuff comes up.”
Without the leads of the Scarecrow or the Wicked Witch and only two weeks before opening night, the drama club members were freaking out. However, this panic did not last for very long.
Ferri: “…my cast is very–what’s the word–they’re very enthusiastic. I already had people less than an hour after the drop came up to me- multiple people- and say, ‘I want this role if no one else wants it.’…”
With the characters being represented by new actors, things were back on track. There was only one question. Would the actors be able to memorize all of the lines and pull off their characters within the next two weeks?
Fortunately, things worked out, and the cast did an amazing job.
Ferri: “I mean, like obviously I love my Dorothy, I’ve known her since her freshman year, she’s just talented beyond belief. I’ve heard other people come up to me and say, ‘oh this person said that she should have been Dorothy’ Like, hell I couldn’t have been Dorothy the way she was Dorothy. But like the rest of the cast, they’re just as good. Even if they don’t have the same vocal quality, they are so talented in so many other ways. Like I had people who might be an ensemble member, but ensemble does not mean extra, like some people had 8 different roles…”
Although the cast did great, there was a mishap between Toto and Dorothy. Dorothy had to kick Toto off stage a couple of times, all of which happened on stage in front of the audience.
Ferri: “There was a misunderstanding about- I was supposed to drive him away but it seemed that when I was, well because I obviously couldn’t speak to her on stage, I like kind of gave her like a thumbs up and then she just kicked him and you know that’s just part of her enthusiastic and go-getter nature. And the audience loved it.”.
Toto was probably the most difficult character to cast. It is naturally difficult to find the perfect fit for any role, but when it comes to such an essential character-such as Toto is in the Wizard of Oz-the pressure is 10 times worse. Seeing his beautiful performance on stage left the audience wondering, what did it take to cast such a perfect Toto?
Ferri: “I went to Target, and I found a remote control car. See, the remote control car was an idea since the beginning of the year, and our tech director had one, except it was too big for the basket, but I did not know this until two days before the show, so I had to find a remote control car before the show, with the correct batteries. And then, a very kind person from backstage provided the dog and we zip tied it. Love Em for that, Em Furtado, shoutout to you for that.”
Directors have many responsibilities, including casting the actors and dealing with all aspects of the club. Handling all this as a director while keeping up with studies as a student is twice as difficult. How did Lulu do it?
Ferri: “…I don’t know how I did it to be completely honest. I think when you’re doing something that is very impossible, the best thing that you can do is remind yourself everyday, like when things go wrong, that you’re doing the impossible, and you have to do the best you can do with that.”
For a student who is also enrolled in many AP classes, Lulu did a great job. She had help from her advisor, Mr. Hodge, a retired teacher from Toll Gate, who prolonged his stay here to help out with the sets and over seeing that things went well.
Ferri: “… all in all, he did sacrifice a lot for us…”
Overall, the play went well. The audience enjoyed the performance, and all of the members of the drama club had fun, which is what matters. It’s important to remember that at the end of the day, the directors, the cast members, backstage and tech people, are all still students and high schoolers at that. It is worth noting that they did the best they could with what they were given.
Ferri: “You are all the best. I hope that you take any of the mistakes I made and use it to make a better year for yourselves next year and I hope you take some of the things that I did as well for that same reason. There is nothing I want more than to come back next year and see a show better than all these other high schools. I want to see Toll Gate make a comeback, whether it’s with or without me!”
Thank you to Lulu, Mr. Hodge, Mrs. Netcoh, cast, tech and backstage crew and all who helped make this show possible. There is no way the play could have been possible without all of you. “There is no place like home.”-Dorothy Gale
