The Patchwork Girl of Oz

De: L. Frank Baum

Narrado por: David Thorn, Full Supporting Cast

A patchwork doll comes to life, and Dorothy, the Tin Woodsman, and a host of new characters have enchanting adventures in the land of Oz. After a doll made out of a patchwork quilt is brought to life by a magician, she must find a way to break a spell that has turned two victims into motionless statues. A boy, the Patchwork Girl, and Bungle the Glass Cat go on a mission to find the ingredients for a charm that will transform the people back to life.

Familiar Oz characters and delightful new creatures join in the whimsical adventures that take place in the magical land of Oz. The Munchkin boy, Ojo, and all the Oz Characters, including a few new ones like the Patchwork Girl and the Glass Cat, join in the search for the magic Powder of Life. Ojo's beloved Unk Nunkie has accidentally been changed into a marble statue and Ojo needs certain things for the potion that will restore Unc Nunkie to life. Looking for the ingredients for the Powder, the travelers, including Princess Dorothy and Toto (of Wizard of Oz fame), The Tin Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead, The Scarecrow, The Hungry Tiger and the Cowardly Lion search far and wide to help Ojo. Unexpected trials force the group back to Princess Ozma of Oz and the Wizard of Oz who finally get things sorted out.

Public Domain (P)2002 Alcazar AudioWorks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Alcazar Audio Works provides a delightfully directed full-cast reading of Baum's seventh novel set in Oz. A poor Munchkin boy named Ojo teams up with Ozma, Dorothy, the Wizard, a quilted patchwork girl named Scraps, and the rest of the wondrous characters to save Ojo's uncle from a wicked wizard's spell. The uncredited narrator reads with a beautiful English accent as a team of actors plays the colorful characters. Without using any sound effects, the cast brings the characters and Baum's story to life. One character, a lazy man of Quadling country, is given a surfer-dude accent, and Baum's words are updated to amusing but incongruous effect. Listeners of all ages will enjoy this whimsical fantasy." ( AudioFile)

Wonderful production of a mostly wonderful story

Alcazar Audio, located in Northern California and comprised of a group of working voice-over artists, did an absolutely beautiful job with this production. The British narrator, David Thorn, is astounding -- what a stunning voice! -- and is one of the best audiobook narrators I've ever heard. You will be delighted by his rich, warm tone.

The cast of many actors is also superb, a few standouts of whom include the actress who voiced The Patchwork Girl (terrific!), the actor who voiced The Shaggy Man, and the actress who voiced The Glass Cat.

My one complaint casting-wise, however, would be the voicing of the lead male character, the young boy Ojo. He appears to be portrayed by an adult actress mimicking a boy's voice and, with my apologies, it didn't work. First of all, it didn't sound like an authentic boy's voice; secondly, she made it sound more like a 6 or 7yo, rather than more of the 12 or 13yo that Baum envisioned for this character, evidenced via the drawings of artist John R. Neill in the original books.

I simply wish they would have used a real boy actor for that part, especially since the character is on almost every single page and carries much of the dialogue. His portrayal would have come across with a great deal more authenticity and not stuck out like a sore thumb.

If I may, one disagreement with one small section of the script that Alcazar adapted for this production. A minor character who appears in the last quarter of the book is a lazy Quadling Man who lives on the river. In the voicing, the producer allows the actor to sound as if he were a California surfer dude and to let him say, numerous times, the actual word "dude" (e.g., "oh, no, dude!"), a contemporary expression that certainly was not around when this book was written in 1913. I found that to be taking dramatic license to an unnecessary height and should not have been used. Other than that, they seem to stay true to the original writing.

I did give the story itself only 4 stars because, although this is definitely one of the better Oz books that Baum has written, and the story was compelling and highly imaginative most of the way through, the very pat ending was a major disappointment. I wouldn't at all let that stop you from listening to this audiobook, however, but I just needed to point that out.

I read these books as a kid, and enjoyed them very much, and still do. But now as an adult I do see that there were a few deep flaws in Baum's writing in terms of: (a) consistency with some of the previous books in the series in terms of story and detail; (b) some of his logic; and, (c) his sometimes taking the easy way out in the resolution of whatever conflict was posed in the plot.

But that doesn't stop me from giving this audiobook production 5 stars, as it is a great story on the whole and truly a terrific production.

Excellent story

What did you love best about The Patchwork Girl of Oz?

I loved everything about it all the characters had so much feeling and made the story come alive.

What other book might you compare The Patchwork Girl of Oz to and why?

The wizard of oz collection

Have you listened to any of David Thorn and Full Supporting Cast ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No never but it's very good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Scrapes tired to help Ojo by covering up his crime so that her friend could still help his Uncle.