Ark Theatre at the Hayworth (Los Angeles, CA)
Say Goodbye, Toto is a fanciful re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz told from the point of view of Dorothy's dog, Toto. Amy Heidish's whimsical play, making its world premiere at Ark Theatre, finds Toto tangling with cats, witches, wizards and Munchkins and battling with the Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man for Dorothy's affections.
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The last date listed for Say Goodbye, Toto was Saturday September 19, 2009 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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I'm a Wizard of Oz fanatic, and this play was just superb. The actors were all well cast, not a bad one in the bunch. Especially liked the Munchkins, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. The story is told from Toto's perspective, and there are many surprises. The scenic design was amazing, so much was able to be done in a small area. I loved it so much I not only recommended it to family, friends and co-workers (they know my love of Wiz of Oz), but I have already arranged to see it again. This is definitely a must see, laughs are abundant and you won't go home disappointed!!
Very lively, funny, clever & entertaining show performed with much enthusiasm by a top-notch cast. Good for both adults and kids alike!
Fabulous original production with terrific acting all around.
It was clever & well done. The second act needs some work.
The acting was spotty, the script silly. there were these cibes on stage and someone must have thought that it added to the show for someone to run out and rotate them every once in a while. I did particularly like the cat.
delightful small theatre, talented actors and actresses...enjoyed it very much..
The play was, albeit silly, very funny and clever. All of the actors were great and we were surprised there weren't more people in the audience! That didn't stop the actors from giving 100% though. It was an enjoyable show!!
Wouldn't have expected to enjoy a broad comedy based on a children's novel/movie, but I really did. Wonderful to see a new play rather than a revival. Great performances across the board.
The idea of telling this story through Toto's eyes seems valid, but at the end of the play I wasn't sure on what the point of the whole endeavor was. I also felt the cast and director tended to confuse comedy with shouting and most of the play was performed at a decibel more suitable for a stadium than for a tiny theatre. The actor playing Toto was very very good and I appreciated his underplaying.
It is like a badly done children's theater play--we left at intermission!
Upbeat performances. Witty dialogue. Gets a little kooky - and it made me laugh.
A wonderful, small theater and a very child-friendly (yet equally enjoyable by adults) production served as the perect way to introduce our 5 and 7 year old children to theater. The performance was excellent and the acting superb. I especially enjoyed the Lion character.
This was an enchanting evening in the theatre! Amy Heidish has taken a wonderfully creative, well written spin on the famous L. Frank Baum tale. The actors playing Toto, the lion, the scarecrow and the tin man were excellent---beautiful body movement and characterizations. Don't miss this original play produced by an excellent company!
The play was great. Completely charming, surprising and quite funny. My companions and I were still laughing after we left the theater. It's very family-friendly and a great night out. Definitely worth seeing.
I took three 10 year old boys to the show and hoped they would make it through, not knowing quite what to expect. They LOVED it. They were quoting lines all the way home. Terrific, clever, funny and fast paced.Very good cast. I do agree that the script could use another pass but nothing major. Also agree that the constant shifting of the set blocks seemed unnecessary for many of the scene changes. Our favorite actors were the 2 munchkins-- hilarious. Beautiful building-- Brownies were great, cupcakes not so much. Take your kids!
Fun show! The cast is enthusiastic, the sets are minimal but still excel in "transporting" you to Oz, and the dialogue is hysterical! If I have one critique it's that the one-liners are sometimes coming at such a fast pace that some jokes might be getting lost -- but what a problem to have!
As a theatre vet, I have seen much better. I was mesmerized by the fact the stage manager kept rotating the "cubes" on stage, and neither I nor my guest could figure out the reasoning behind it. The mariachi band next door at the famed restaurant was captvaling and very entertaining, something I am normally not a fan of. I felt much of the acting was questionable, but i remained for the entire show. I would not make a repeat visit...
I was very curious as to how they were going to pull this off and very pleased with the show. For such a small facilty they were very creative in how different scenery situations were handled and fould it to be a very great and capitivating show. Hey, plus it helped me score some points with the new lady in my life which is a good thing.
Loved the performances... the script needs work.
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Formerly a movie theater and dance studio, The Hayworth has been transformed into Los Angeles’ hottest and most vibrant theatre and performing arts center. This two story stucco - over brick structure houses a 99 seat theatre, 42 seat theatre, 49 seat theatre, dressing room, green room and a 1500 sq ft ballroom perfect for auditions, rehearsals, classes, parties and special events.
The Hayworth
Website: http://arktheatre.org/toto.html
World Premiere
By Amy Heidish
Directed by Jamie Virostko
The Ark Theatre Company at the Hayworth and Playwrights 6 each continue the celebration of their 10th Anniversary season with a joint production of Amy Heidish's new full-length play, Say Goodbye, Toto. A fanciful re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz as told from Toto's point of view, Say Goodbye, Toto whisks us away to an alternate world where Dorothy Gale's faithful dog battles the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion for her affections. While tangling with cats, witches, wizards, and Munchkins, Toto learns about the true meaning of love in Heidish's whimsical world premiere.
Say Goodbye, Toto marks the second collaboration between The Ark Theatre Company and Playwright's 6 following the 2005 hit, The Big Ever After, also written by Heidish. The production was hailed by audiences and critics alike, garnering "Pick of The Week" from LA Weekly and Goldstar's "Roar Of The Crowd" award.
Playwrights 6 is an elite playwright-managed theater company whose productions have earned several L.A. Weekly Award nominations and Backstage West Garland Award honorary mentions. Playwrights 6 productions have also made several "Critics Top 10" lists and garnered numerous "Critic's Picks." Recently, the company was featured in articles in The Dramatist, American Theatre and L.A. Stage magazines.
The cast for Say Goodbye, Toto includes Tracy Eliott, Jake Elsas, Mike Fallon, Grant Mahnken, Margaret McCarley, Anna Quirino Miranda, Jordana Oberman, Joseph Porter, Andres Ramacho and Renee Scott.
The Ark Theatre Company, led by former Royal Shakespeare Company member Paul Wagar, is an ensemble of theatre professionals dedicated to the creation of outstanding theatre -- theatre with emotional weight, intelligence and passion. The company specializes in classical theatre, as well as contemporary plays that reflect the depth and interplay of language in classical works.
