The Wicked Witch of the West is a prominent character in L. Frank Baum's famous children's novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." This tale, published in 1900, follows the journey of a young girl named Dorothy Gale, who is transported from her dull, gray Kansas home to the colorful and magical land of Oz. Throughout her adventure, Dorothy encounters various obstacles, including the formidable Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West, often simply referred to as the Wicked Witch, is one of the primary antagonists in the story. She rules over the western region of Oz, which is known for its desolate and barren landscapes.
Although this show has become an audience favorite since it first premiered in 2005, it’s been almost exactly three years ago to the day when, on March 12, 2020, the dancers performed their first and only performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when they heard that they would have to cancel the rest of the performances due to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic.
The story follows the adventures of four English children staying in a large house in the country to escape the bombing in London during World War II. Although this show has become an audience favorite since it first premiered in 2005, it s been almost exactly three years ago to the day when, on March 12, 2020, the dancers performed their first and only performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when they heard that they would have to cancel the rest of the performances due to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic.
She rules over the western region of Oz, which is known for its desolate and barren landscapes. Unlike her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who is killed when Dorothy's house crash-lands in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch of the West survives and seeks revenge on Dorothy for her sister's demise. Dorothy's unintentional act of squashing the Wicked Witch of the East with her house sparks a deep-rooted hatred within the Wicked Witch of the West.
After pandemic pause, Evanston Dance Ensemble returns to Narnia
Sign up for our free newsletter to have Evanston news delivered directly to your inbox every weekday!
On March 9, when Evanston Dance Ensemble performers take the stage for an original ballet production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it will be a return to the magical world of Narnia nearly three years to the day after the show had to shut down because of pandemic restrictions.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an original ballet first staged by Evanston Dance Ensemble in 2005. Credit: Matt Glavin/Evanston Dance Ensemble
That ill-fated production at the Josephine Louis Theater on Northwestern University’s campus had exactly one performance, on March 12, 2020.
Béa Rashid, who founded Evanston Dance Ensemble and Dance Center Evanston, the company where the ensemble got its start, had the foresight to have the performance videotaped, lest all of the dancers’ work be lost and forgotten.
Now this year’s return to the same stage with a refreshed version of the same show feels like a celebration. Of the 21 dancers who will be performing, only two were involved in the 2020 production. And those dancers have grown physically, artistically and emotionally, so they have new parts and new costumes.
Rashid first staged the show in 2005. She described her creative process in a recent conversation that included her husband and frequent collaborator, Steve Rashid. He is a composer, performer, producer and sound engineer who has won numerous professional awards for his work scoring dance, film, television, theater and children’s recordings.
Steve and Béa Rashid worked together on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: She was one of the choreographers of the ballet and he composed original music for the work. Credit: Matt Glavin
“I wanted original music that would be really appropriate for the different scenes that I envisioned being part of the production,” Béa Rashid said. “I asked Steve if he would consider scoring the whole show. And he said yes. The process – from the point at which I decided to do the adaptation and he wrote the entire score, and then we choreographed it and put it on dancers and set it up on its feet on stage – took a couple of years.”
The show has been produced seven times since 2005, and each production is unique.
“Every single time we do this, there’s a different set of dancers in front of me, you know, and so, our goal is to make them look as strong as possible on stage,” Béa Rashid said. “For that reason, we do sometimes make adjustments to raise the level of the choreography to the level of the dancer that is being used or to just address the stylistic strengths of the dancer and to meet them where they are. It’s very much part of the collaboration with the dancers themselves. They bring a lot of character and a lot of personality to the roles they’re playing.”
She encourages the dancers to read the original fantasy novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, to gain a better understanding of the characters. Musicians don’t necessarily need to be inspired by the original story, but they do need to interpret the story to meet the needs of the choreographers.
Steve Rashid said, “My job was to work with the choreographers and make sure that the music that I developed reflected the same attitude towards that scene or narrative that the choreographers, in particular Béa, wanted.
“I live in a world of sound. One of the absolute joys of this for me, once I complete my work, is to actually see it. It’s like watching my music in front of me. … It’s always an emotionally powerful experience for me to simply see it physicalized in front of me, even after all these productions. The process itself is not new, but the experience is always fresh.”
Christina Ernst, artistic director of Evanston Dance Ensemble. Credit: Evanston Dance EnsembleChristina Ernst, artistic director of Evanston Dance Ensemble, is also eager to see this year’s production on stage. After the pandemic shutdown, she described coming back as “a healing moment.”
“It’s a timeless story because fairy tales or stories are about metaphors of good and bad,” Ernst said. “You kind of have to go on a journey and work through stuff, and I think it’s very much like life. Goodness prevails and wins in the end and everybody can relate to that.
“This show is done on a very high artistic level with the whole decor, the music, the lights, the costumes and the performers. It’s just a very artistic experience for all ages. It pleases everybody.”
The show will be performed March 9 through 12 at the Josephine Louis Theater at Northwestern University. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. March 9 preview show are $15; tickets for other performances (at 7:30 p.m. March 10 and 1 and 4 p.m. March 11 and 12) are $15 for children and seniors and $25 for adults.
Tickets can be purchased through the Northwestern box office, over the phone at 847-491-7282 or online at tinyurl.com/lion2023.
When the Witch discovers that Dorothy possesses the deceased witch's enchanted silver shoes, she becomes determined to acquire them and use their power to reinforce her own dominance over Oz. Throughout the story, the Wicked Witch of the West sends her minions, such as the Winged Monkeys and her own personal Winkie Guards, to capture Dorothy and her companions, hoping to obtain the silver shoes. The Witch's actions are marked by cruelty and a desire for power, as she demonstrates through her use of dark magic and her manipulation of the other inhabitants of Oz. However, despite her wicked nature, the Wicked Witch of the West is not invincible. Her vulnerability lies in the fact that she can be harmed by water, causing her to melt away completely. This weakness plays a significant role in the story's climax when Dorothy inadvertently throws water onto the Witch during a confrontation, ultimately leading to her downfall. Overall, the character of the Wicked Witch of the West serves as a symbol of evil, darkness, and power in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Through her actions and interactions with Dorothy and her companions, she teaches important lessons about courage, friendship, and the importance of overcoming obstacles..
Reviews for "The Wicked Witch's Flying Monkeys: The Story Behind the Loyal Minions"
1. John Smith - 2 stars
I found "The Wicked Witch of the West" to be a disappointing read. The characters lacked depth and the plot was predictable. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, without adding any originality to the world of Oz. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing with the series.
2. Sarah Johnson - 3 stars
While "The Wicked Witch of the West" had some promising elements, such as the magical setting of Oz, I ultimately felt let down by the execution of the story. The pacing was slow, making it hard to stay engaged in the plot. Additionally, I found the writing style to be unremarkable and lacked the necessary descriptive details that could have brought the story to life. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are a die-hard fan of the Wizard of Oz franchise.
3. Emily Thompson - 2 stars
"The Wicked Witch of the West" failed to capture my interest from the start. The characters felt flat and the dialogue was uninspiring. It was difficult to care about what happened to them throughout the story. The plot lacked originality and relied too heavily on established tropes. I had high hopes for this book but sadly, it fell short of my expectations.
4. Mark Davis - 1 star
I couldn't make it past the first few chapters of "The Wicked Witch of the West". The writing was dull and lacked any sort of excitement. The characters were forgettable and I couldn't bring myself to care about their journey. The book had potential but failed to deliver a captivating story. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging fantasy read.
5. Laura Adams - 2 stars
"The Wicked Witch of the West" was a disappointing read for me. The world-building felt shallow and underdeveloped, lacking the necessary detail to fully immerse the reader in the story. The pacing was slow and the plot lacked originality, making it hard to stay engaged. Overall, it was a forgettable read that left me wanting more from the author.