When I went to see a recent rehearsal of the Newton High School drama department’s fall production of short Hans Christian Anderson plays, I noticed Winston the dog had managed to get more work as an actor. Winston had played Toto in NHS’s spring production of “The Wizard of Oz” — one of the greatest stories ever told and re-told in American film and literature history.
The recent election season, coupled with the harvest season and a few mentions of the movie, such as an item autographed by actor Jack Haley being a part of the United Way of Jasper County auction, all reminded me of parts of the story. Most of us can relate at least partly with one or more characters in the film, as it covers so many characteristics and roles in life.
The Cowardly Lion is probably the character I identify with the closest — and not simply because I lack courage (or because actor Bert Lahr) had so many funny lines in the film). The lion struggles with his fears and eventually overcomes those doubts with the help of others, and that feels like a familiar path where I find myself regularly.
The Tin Man is a close second, partly because the band America once sang “Oz never gave a thing to the Tin Man that he didn’t already have.” But the lion’s path goes to further extremes, both in his mind and in the course of his group’s adventures, and he has more of a gradual realization that his fears began mostly in his little lion mind.
Whether it’s my strength as a journalist, my citizenship or how well I treat others, I should be constantly working to improve, and it’s up to me to face up to my own doubts. It’s not the decision of a man behind a curtain— it’s up to me to decide if I try to help storm the witch’s castle, or run off in panic and leap through a rather expensive-looking stained-glass window.
Another recent event that brought up “The Wizard of Oz” was my mother happening across an old photograph of Judy Garland’s childhood home. She lived part of her childhood in Lancaster, Calif., where our family lived for about 20 years, and it was a treat to pass by and think the lead actress from one of our favorite movies grew up in that house.
We talked about that if anyone could make it out of Lancaster and become a famous Hollywood actress, there was hope for many others. No one in my family became Hollywood-famous — not yet, at least — but we all eventually moved on from Lancaster and have had some measure of success, so getting out of the desert at least happened for all of us. We conquered our cowardice in that sense.
I might still lack the tenacious or braggadocio of the Coward Lion when he starts trying to pump himself up, and I doubt I’ll boast about tearing a hippopotamus “from top to bottom-us.” However, I run into moments when I crank up old Survivor or Twisted Sister songs and try to get the confidence going.
Conquering fears is not simply a good movie theme or chest-pounding patriotism. It’s an essential component of living in a society where so much emphasis is placed on people trying to bring each other down.
It should be none of my business where others are at on self-esteem, especially if they’re not in competition with me on any level. My concern is maintaining the same willingness to address self-doubt that makes a muskrat guard his musk.
Contact Jason W. Brooks
at jbrooks@newtondailynews.com