---

FOXBORO - When Bay Colony Productions and Uncommon Theatre collaborate, good things happen: Scarecrows get smarter, lions get bolder, tin men get softer and young girls arrive home in time for dinner, safe and sound. That's right folks, there's no place like Oz and for the next few weekends, you can go there simply by purchasing a ticket at the Orpheum Theatre on Foxboro Common.

We all know the story of the Kansas girl swept away by a tornado to a bright, colorful, magical land and her frantic search, complete with new and unlikely friends, to find her way back home.

Director Bill Cunningham pays homage to the 1939 film and does not stray from the cinematic version except in Act 2, when he leaves in the "Jitterbug" number, which was cut in the film version. Cunningham's purist approach to the production is appreciated and enjoyed: It takes a good director to know when NOT to mess with a classic.

As Dorothy, Ashley Yarnell is perfectly cast. She looks like a young Judy Garland and has Dorothy's mannerisms and voice inflection down pat. She's of course at her best in her "Over the Rainbow" number: Her voice, like fine crystal, is multi-faceted yet clear and true. Yarnell is also unflappable: When Toto wasn't "in his scenes" and tried to scurry off the stage, she retrieved him without missing a beat or dropping a line.

Attleboro's Laura Gustafson plays the sweet Glinda the Good Witch to cavity-causing perfection. On the flip side of the witch spectrum, D.B. Kozar turns in a nasty and mean performance as the Wicked Witch of the West. And as the Wizard of Oz himself, Steve Dooner is quite the conjurer of a fine performance. Well done by all. As the Scarecrow, Mike Warner is flawlessly cast. In fact, it should be noted that there isn't a weak link in this cast of over 60 people: Each person is in the role they were meant to play. That said, Warner shines as the not so bright, yet big-hearted Scarecrow with perfectly timed falls and Bolgeresque charm. The Tin Man is played with all heart by Attleboro's Brian Gustafson and the plucky false bravado of Jeff Mahoney's Lion is perfectly timed.

This production is filled with smart lighting effects designed by Michael J. Teixeira, well timed sound cues designed by Ed DiMarzio, clever choreography by Dori Bryan and gorgeous costuming by Daniel B. Kozar. The Orpheum Theatre's design allows for the well trained and beautiful sounding orchestra, conducted by Robert J. Goldman, to be behind the stage so as not to be distracting to the eyes and overbearing to the ears, which is a real treat.

All in all, this production is well worth the trip to Foxboro. After all, traveling by car over the rainbow to Oz is easier than hitching a ride there on a twister.

"THE WIZARD OF OZ" runs weekends through Dec. 14 at the Orpheum Theatre, 1 School St., Foxboro. For reservations call 508-543-2787.