‘Oz--Live!’ at Forum: If It Only Had Heart

“The Wizard of Oz--Live!,” on a national tour stop at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, almost closed before it opened. Financial problems were eased at the last minute by the show’s sponsors, Ralston-Purina and Procter & Gamble. Was it worth it?

Judging solely by the enthusiastic crowd response at Thursday’s show, yes.

This musical stage spectacle has a clever brain behind it--the choreography, costumes and special effects are sure crowd-pleasers. It demonstrates courage--some of the actors soar on wires 40 feet above the stage.

In fact, the show is full of thundering sound effects, showers of sparks, candy colors, high-wire tricks, and the Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs that everyone can hum. It’s missing only one thing: Heart.

The mechanics are fun, but overly evident. The flying mechanisms chug along slowly overhead and in full view of the audience, and the sets appear and disappear behind long painted curtains with leisurely, by-the-numbers regularity.

The actors are simply another part of the machinery. Director-producer Michel M. Grilikhes stays close to the 1939 MGM film version of the story, even to having the recorded dialogue delivered with the vocal inflections of Judy Garland and her fellow cast members.

Last year’s Long Beach Civic Light Opera adaptation of “Oz,” featuring Cathy Rigby, was a showy, copy-cat version too, but it managed to convey a sweetness all its own.

The actors at the Forum can’t be faulted for their faithful re-creations, particularly 23-year-old Grace Grieg as a petite, full-voiced and spunky Dorothy. And yes, Toto is a real live Cairn terrier (there are actually five Totos that take turns).

The talented production team includes Emmy-winning art director Jeremy Railton and Oscar-winning choreographer Onna White. Bill Campbell’s costumes are confections.

Grilikhes’ “50th anniversary celebration” (of the movie; L. Frank Baum’s book was published in 1900) proves that imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it’s a marketable commodity.

At the Forum on Manchester Avenue in Inglewood today at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $9, $11 and $13 with senior, child and group discounts available. (213) 480-3232; (714) 740-2000; (805) 583-8700 or (619) 278-TIXS.