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Frank Baum's the Wizard of Oz

Frank Baum's the Wizard of Oz

1985

Director

Angélica Ortiz, Ramón Téllez

Runtime

70 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

In this minimalist stage version of the MGM film, Dorotea is swept to Oz by an offstage tornado, greeted by Glinda and flowery Munchkins, not played by actors. Glinda looks suspiciously like Mother Ema (not Aunt). A Wicked Witch appears with blacked out teeth who looks like Dona Brujilda, who has been trying to get rid of Dorotea's dog.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.2/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The narrative focuses entirely on Dorotea's journey. There are no explicit depictions of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative romantic pairings present in this version.

Gender Representation

Fair

Dorotea serves as a central female protagonist driving the plot. The presence of Glinda and the Wicked Witch establishes a female-centric power dynamic throughout the story.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The use of names like Dorotea and Dona Brujilda suggests a cultural transposition. This indicates a departure from the Anglo-centric standards of the original MGM classic.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

Minimalist staging and the reimagining of the Wicked Witch as a local antagonist suggest a move toward subjective morality. This approach avoids traditional, didactic Western storytelling norms.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The production provides no information regarding the depiction of physical, sensory, or neurodivergent characters.

Strengths

  • The film centers on a female protagonist, providing a female-driven narrative architecture.
  • It disrupts traditional Western storytelling by utilizing a minimalist, non-traditional staging approach.
  • Character reconfigurations suggest a move toward more nuanced, subjective morality.

Areas for Improvement

  • The production lacks explicit depictions of LGBTQ+ identities or queer subtext.
  • There is no visible representation of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • The film lacks the intersectional depth required for a higher diversity score.

AI Analysis

This stage-based adaptation of the classic tale functions as a moderate reimagining. It succeeds by disrupting traditional character archetypes and shifting the focus toward a localized, female-centric perspective. By reconfiguring characters like Glinda and the Wicked Witch, the film moves away from high-budget Hollywood spectacle. It replaces universal tropes with more personal, community-based conflicts. However, the work lacks explicit intersectional complexity. While it departs from the original source material's norms, it does not provide deep representation across all identity categories.

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