An unexpected trip down the yellow brick road

By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

Back in 2009, the Town of Manlius Recreation Department presented its summer production of “The Wizard of Oz,” bringing new life to the classic story of a young farm girl in a magical land.

In the late spring of 2009, Daniel Lawless and his older sister Dorothy Booher—both in their 50s at the time—decided on a whim to audition for the production despite being complete newcomers to the realm of theater.

“It was a mob scene for the tryout,” Lawless said. “My sister and I showed up just for kicks.”

According to Booher, the pair thought they gave the audition a worthwhile shot, even though they were both admittedly unprepared.

“The audition was hilarious, I must say,” Booher said. “You had to, unbeknownst to me, arrive with sheet music ready to sing.”

Two days later, the final cast for “The Wizard of Oz” was listed and posted, featuring Lawless as Uncle Henry and Booher as Auntie Em.

“It was a complete shock,” Lawless, at the time and still to this day a bus driver for the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District, said.

Booher said she believed the two were chosen because they didn’t need makeup to look like their middle-aged characters.

“Opening night came, and I peaked through the curtains, and the place was packed,” Lawless said. “I couldn’t believe I got myself in that situation.”

Over four performances, the siblings grew in comfort in front of the bright lights and full crowds of the Fayetteville-Manlius High School auditorium.

“You definitely gain confidence with each performance,” Booher said. “The first one, you’re typically a little anxious. By the final one, I was more relaxed in the role.”

Having practiced intensively through June and into July with his sister and the rest of the cast, Lawless said that he didn’t want to let his family, cast members and friends in attendance down.

“For the first time in my life, I had to be somebody else,” Lawless said. “I just tried so hard to do it right and not miss my lines, and I did it—we all did it. It was an unexpected trip down the yellow brick road.”

Lawless and Booher said they each had standout moments during the production.

“I had a confrontation with Miss Gulch, when she came in on her bike to take Toto away,” Lawless said. “We went toe to toe, her and I.”

For Booher, it was her emotional calls for protagonist Dorothy as the tornado touched down on Kansas.

“It was really an interesting experience,” Booher, who had previously been a part of the Spirit of Syracuse Chorus, said. “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. The years do fly by.”

Later in 2009, the Town of Manlius was recognized with a State Assembly of New York Proclamation for its commitment to theater and the arts.

“We did hear a lot of positive comments from the audience,” Ronald Hebert, the production’s director, said. “Some came back a second or third time.”

In 2011, Lawless returned to the Manlius recreation department for its production of “West Side Story,” performing the role of Lt. Schrank.

In 2012, Lawless and Booher went on to perform in “The Man Who Came to Dinner” at the CNY Playhouse as John and Mrs. Dexter, respectively.