REVIEW: The Speakeasy Society Returns To Kansas With Chapter 8 - THE SLIPPERS

On a rainy Los Angeles evening, we found Oscar Diggs, whom claimed he had something very important. This was important, because Oscar hadn’t been seen since the wedding. He had been playing hard to get with his allegiances up until now, but the assassination of the Scarecrow King finally made him choose a side…Patchwork.

So began another entry in The Speakeasy Society’s opus The Kansas Collection. This was Chapter 8, THE SLIPPERS, in which the story that has been building for almost two years is all falling into place.

By now, we know that Ozma, the Lost Princess, has split herself into two halves; Phil Daring, who received the good parts, and Phoebe, who received the bad. While Phoebe rules as Queen Ozma back in Oz, Phil and his allies are hiding out here in Kansas. When we last saw Glenda, the former good witch, she had Phil tied up on a rooftop, practically with a gun to his head. Now, they are working together, though Glenda seems to be the one holding the alliance together.

It was here, after finding Mr. Diggs, that we see how vastly different these character’s lives have changed over the course of these 8 chapters. The former so-called “Wizard of Oz” is no longer a drunken mess, the events that have taken place recently steeling him to finally take action. Phil is no longer under the oppressive thumb of his sister (though Glenda seems to have taken that role now) and is coming into his own with his new-found identity. Glenda is still a badass, though her motivation for revenge has just been extended due to the death of Jinjur. And the Lion…well, she’s still doing whatever suits her best, and that’s completely fine with me.

This chapter focused specifically on turning the tide, as the namesake of the show was what Oscar believed he had possession of. The slippers, in a lot of ways, were not only a physical aspect, but also a metaphor for fitting into a role that has been given to you, whether you liked it or not.

Taking place at Thymele Arts, one of my favorite venues in Los Angeles, the set dressing, though minimal, was great. Walking into to the safe house really felt like Glenda and Phil have been living on the fringes of society, hiding away from the rest of the world until they figured out their next move. I’m also always impressed with how these shows can do so much with seemingly so little. Character interactions and conversations may seem simple on the surface, but reveal deeper ambitions and meaning underneath it all.

A smaller audience of six made for a more intimate show, allowing more personal interactions with the characters in attendance. My son and I moved out to the hallway with Glenda and the Lion (whom followed us in, despite our being excellent lookouts) to have a tension-filled conversation, while everyone else stayed with Phil and Oscar. Natalie Fryman’s Glenda brings such an intensity to the role that always scares me a bit; Glenda is unpredictable and strikes me as someone who makes brash, impulsive decisions at the drop of the hat. She’s fighting for what she believes is right, and Fryman is fantastic in the role.

On the other end of the spectrum is Jessica Rosilyn’s Lion, whose laissez-faire attitude is a delight to watch. She consistently has some of the funniest moments, and Rosilyn’s delivery is always spot on. She may be playing all sides of this conflict for her own personal benefit, but I can’t help but root for her to be on the winning side (whatever it may be), because she is fantastic. She left a lasting impression on my son, as he cannot stop talking about how funny she was.

Once back inside the safe house, seeing Matthew Bamberg-Johnson come out of his sister’s shadow and into his true identity as Ozma is wonderful. Bamberg-Johnson plays him as incredibly confident in his abilities in one moment, and then almost as a bumbling fool the next. It’s fantastic to watch. Phil is one of the sweetest people to grace this story, always trying to please those around him, while also assuming the leadership role. And finally, John McCormick’s Oscar has been fascinating to see. Once a stumbling, drunken mess, he’s a man of action now. He is not letting the world crumble around him anymore, and I loved seeing McCormick bark out orders to us and try to make things right, truly coming into his own.

In all, THE SLIPPERS was another fantastic entry into this series, and one that makes me anticipate the next two even more. We’re coming to a head on this story now, and the clash between the Ozmas is going to be one you can’t miss.

The Kansas Collection: Chapter 8 – THE SLIPPERS is playing March 1-3 and 8-10, so you still have time to see it! More information, and tickets, can be found at: www.speakeasysociety.com/theslippers