THE WIZARD OF OZ

Listening to THE WIZARD OF OZ is an eye-opening experience. There's more to this story's plot, themes, and connections than is revealed in the movie classic. Anna Fields's narration creates a new vision of a younger, sweeter Dorothy; more one-dimensional, fairy-tale-like characters; a more adventurous journey to Oz; and a new ending. Although Fields seems stiff and reserved at first, ultimately those same qualities help simplify the story and keep it truer to the original. Her voiced rendition keeps the characters clear most of the time and helps maintain the simple quality of the story, "in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." W.L.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]