When I was three years old, I saw the movie "The Wizard of Oz" for the for first time. It soon became my favorite movie and I had every word memorized at that young age. Everything I did in the future surrounded this movie. I read almost every book in the series and had almost every edition of the "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book and movie.
Then, I started getting interested in theater, at around the time "Wicked" debuted on Broadway. I remember listening to that cast recording on loop and had almost every word memorized; I was ready to see the show. Tickets were impossible to get and they were crazy expensive (we're talking" Hamilton" style). Then, one Christmas I open up one of my gifts, and it is salt and pepper shakers -- one as Glinda's crown and the other as the Wicked Witch's hat. I knew my parents bought us tickets for "Wicked." I was so excited and it was hands down the best Christmas ever.
Fast forward about eight years, and I am now an adult who has the ability to see a show about every week. There was a new off Broadway show out called "The Woodsman." It is the story behind the Tin Man and how he became who he is.
Going into it, I didn't know what to expect. There has been a lot of buzz about how amazing it was. The lights dimmed in the theater and the ensemble walks onstage in a clump and take a collective deep breath. I was hooked.
One guy in front starts on a monologue (about five minutes) telling the backstory. Then the show begins and you don't hear a word. The story is told in movement, sound effects and amazing puppetry. What's so beautiful is that you don't even question why they aren't talking to each other. As an audience member, you just accept it and let the show go on.
As the show ends, I find myself in tears and totally moved by this show. I walked out of there saying, "Best piece of non-musical theater I have ever seen." The last time I said that was a year ago when I saw "Curious Incident." They are definitely on the same level of theatrical experience.
"The Woodsman" is definitely changing the way Broadway and Off-Broadway shows will be written and created. A show that has minimal dialogue and an ensemble-based direction and choreography has the same effect as a blockbuster like "Wicked" does. This is showing that great actors are more than the way they say lines. It really has to do with how they tell the story with their bodies and then just add whatever text they are given no matter how big or little it is. These actors tell this story so beautifully and I know I will be back to see this show many, many, more times.
Go check out "The Woodsman" at New World Stages at 340 West 50th Street, now through May 29. Tickets can be available here http://www.thewoodsmanplay.com/ or at the box office. Students are available to purchase tickets here https://www.tix4students.com/event/the-woodsman/ or anybody under the age of 30 can go with a valid ID and pay $30 to see the show.
