MARENGO — Peacock Children’s Theatre by and for children since 2010 will perform “The Patchwork Girl From Oz” by L. Frank Baum, his seventh book of the Adventures in Oz. The story was adapted by Rita Replogle Harden for the stage. Seventeen young actors age 6 to 17 will take part in the production on March 1, 2, 8 and 9 at the Marengo Middle School, 1130 State Road 66 in Marengo.
The play is about a young boy named Ojo, known as Ojo the Unlucky, who lives with his laconic uncle Unc Nunkie. To survive, they must leave their home to seek better living conditions. On their way they stop to visit the crooked magician, Dr. Pipt who is preparing the magical Powder of Life, which will bring to life the life-sized stuffed rag doll his wife, Margolotte made from an old patchwork crazy quilt. They also meet another of Dr. Pipt’s creations, an extremely vain glass cat named Bungles. When the patchwork girl comes to life, she dances about happily and creates an accident that causes both Pipt’s wife and Unc Nunkie to be turned to marble. Dr. Pipt tells Ojo that he must obtain five ingredients to make a compound to counteract the petrifaction spell. Ojo and the patchwork girl, who Bungles names Scraps, embark on a journey to obtain the magic ingredients. Along their way they befriend Scarecrow, Dorothy Gale, Princess Ozma, Tin Man, Shaggy Lady, the Woozy, Jolly Moonlighters, the Hoppers and the Horners.
To offer more actors the experience of portraying different characters. Some actors play multiple characters. Peacock Children’s Theatre offers the experience to perform in front of an audience and promotes the young actors to use and share their talents. They learn to project, solve problems as a team, develop self-esteem, have fun and make new friends.
The cast includes: OJO — Adriana Skinner, UNC NUNKIE — Adan Griggs, MARGOLOTTE — Nella Schotter, DR. PIPT — Maverick Snyder, SCRAPS — Alayna Embry and Austyn Parrott, BUNGLES — Kayli Embry and Paisley Slaten, WOOZY — Bailey Burgdorf, SHAGGY LADY — Elisa Young, SCARECROW — Brennan Goerss, GUARD — Clary Schotter, DOROTHY — Grace Walerczak, TOTO — Bently Slaten and Jupiter Snyder, OZMA — Alayna Embry and Austyn Parrott, HOPPER CHAMPION — Maverick Snyder, HOPPER #1 — Bailey Burgdorf, HOPPER #2 — Paisley Slaten, and HOPPER #3 -Kayli Embry, HORNER CHIEF — Chesney Slaten, DIKSEY — Clary Schotter, HORNERS — Emmett Schotter and Nella Schotter, BUTTERFLY — Elisa Young, LITTLE BUTTERFLY — Kayli Embry, TIN MAN — Adan Griggs, GLINDA — Elisa Young, and JOLLY MOONLIGHTERS — Company.
Super Saturday is for all those who want to come to the show in their favorite Wizard of OZ costumes. Performances are at Crawford County Middle School for two weekends. Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. and Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
Door opens 30 minutes prior to show time. Admission is $5 for students and $7 for adults. Visit our peacockchildrenstheatre.com/Facebook Page or call 812-338-3845 for information.
