The Wiz also has 2 two good witches, Addapearle and Glinda, like the original book, not the 1939 film. "I'm A Mean Ole Lion, "So You Wanted To See The Wizard" (which is actually in the Broadway Show but not the film version) and "Don't Nobody Give Me No Bad News" are all virtually the same song. The other was the Australian Twentieth Century Oz (1976). The normally bland concrete floors . The subway station scenes were filmed at the decommissioned Court Street IND station in Brooklyn, NY, also known as the NYC Transit Museum. ", Press J to jump to the feed. But I cant be the only person with an appreciation for TheWiz. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. Thats the Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the towers repurposed as, I guess, the Emerald City plaza, and the central orb featuring the OZ letters is the Great Spherical Caryatid sculpture (aka The Sphere), which mostly survived the 9/11 attack and now stands in Battery Park as a memorial. She comes across a man assaulting another woman who then escapes the scene. Nipsey Russell is fine as the Tin Man, too, but Ted Ross sort of disappears into his lion's costume, done in by the makeup man. There, she makes new friends, battles evil witches, and seeks the aid of the all-powerful and mysterious Wiz. On that wonderfully logical premise, the classic Wizard of Oz was transformed into a Broadway musical named The Wiz, and then the most expensive movie musical ever made. in terror. It was directed by the great late Sidney Lumet, who is a kickass director but was out of his element when tasked to film a musical, which SHOULD be shot and edited in a more dynamic way instead of having these long shots away from the dancing characters. The original director, John Badham ( Saturday Night Fever ), withdrew once Ross was cast. As big and as spectacular and as musical as it was, he says, we never got a real solid distribution. Black films, aside from Shaft, were for black audiences. I want him as the Scarecrow.. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Everyone I knew had seen The Wiz dozens of times, owned the VHS, and watched it at family gatherings and on random Saturday afternoons. He's not the hero they deserve andwell, he's not the hero they need either. Included among the American Film Institute's 2004 list of 400 movies nominated for the top 100 America's Greatest Music in the Movies for the song "Ease On Down the Road.". In 1977, Motown bought the rights to The Wiz, a script based on a Broadway hit with African-American stars putting their own spin on The Wizard of Oz. He turned it down, and the part was given to Michael Jackson. He lived a normal life, except for a strange habit Cohen happened to discovertaking baths in Perrier water. Woody Allen? Who doesnt love that? The shoots were long and grueling, lasting all day underneath the World Trade Center towers. Her reluctance to grow up in the musical; she neglects responsibilities in favor of running after Toto and. When it came time for the Scarecrow part, Michael stepped to the microphone and began to sing, not the bright-sounding Michael Jackson of I Want You Back but the 18-year-old MJ whose voice had evolved into something as smooth and powerful as the Concorde. Watching this scene as a child, as a generation of black kids did, was quite an awakening. Recently, the music licensing platform Artlist gave a behind the scenes look at how they built a fake subway set and used sound design, practical effects, and lights to make it feel real. She lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the munchkins from their graffiti prisons on the concrete walls of the Tent of Tomorrow structure. Motown Productions bought the rights to the stage show, intending to cast Stephanie Mills as Dorothy. Lastly, Dorothy is taken from her home and must find her way back with the help of some new friends. Cohen took Michael, along with other members of the cast, to Studio 54, the disco hot spot known for both its crazy sexual escapades and celebrity regulars like Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Cary Grant, and Brooke Shields. It's quite unnerving as a first impression of Oz. Maybe you can build a set at home. Finally, Lumet and Jones saw the qualities that Cohen saw. Everybody has a crying jagthe Lion cries, and Diana Ross and the Tin Man, he says. But the 1972 drama was a success in the end, drawing five Oscar nominations, although Ross lost Best Actress to Liza Minnelli of Cabaret. And Diana Ross wears the same simple white frock for the entire film and projects a wide-eyed innocence that kind of grows on you. With an infectious soul score, dynamic . Michael Martin, known as Iz the Wiz, was a prolific embellisher of New York subway cars, including this one painted in 1982. One of these days Ill get around to seeing the whole flick. With that said, it is essential to realize that often we feel as if we are inferior to others who may have more information on topics, be more interested in various things or seem to be more serious than we are. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. That boy is so sweet! However, seeking help from others is never showing weakness or proving not to be strong in our own abilities. When erstwhile Harlem kindergarten teacher Dorothy (Diana Ross) finally reaches The Wiz, the flimflam man said to be the solution to all her problems, he's not the all-powerful wizard she anticipated. See production, box office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Looks to be one of the abandoned outer platforms and mezzanine of the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts station in Downtown Brooklyn. Michael mostly listened, with mmm-hmms and an occasional whoo! When Quincy enthusiastically mentioned hed seen the Rolling Stones perform, Michael sniffed, You know its not talent, though. The key moment in this nascent partnership came when Michael said hed been writing songs: I hear something in my head. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Maybe I just love subway scenes! I wasn't complaining then and I'm not complaining now. Original director John Badham stepped down when he objected to 33-year-old Diana Ross being cast as a teenage Dorothy. Synchronicity alert.I just learned today is Diana Ross B-day. All Rights Reserved. Its also the musical number youre all most familiarwith. That's a big part of why I love it so much. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. The Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the director told Cohen. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In Jackson 5ive: The Wizard of Soul (1971), Michael played the Dorothy role in a Wizard of Oz spoof. Some churlish souls suggested, however, that The Wiz strains our credibility too much. Another major location from the film that no longer exists, this former home of the New York Mets has been destroyed and replaced by Citi Field. https://medium.com/media/aaaab1fb5e4ffb83dd8e892f7d03de03/href. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (also known as The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3) is a 1974 American crime drama film directed by Joseph Sargent, produced by Gabriel Katzka and Edgar J. Scherick, and starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, and Hctor Elizondo. Diana Ross's Dorothy is played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia. Would love your thoughts, please comment. There is a shot with a coaster in the background and multiple buildings that look kinda like the empire state building that fits also. The scene in which the Cowardly Lion emerges from one of the statues in front of the main research branch of the New York Public Library was shot on a set instead of the actual location because it was logistically impossible to film an entire scene devoid of people, save the main actors, without traffic and pedestrians getting in the way of the production. After Dorothy gets swept up in a tornado, she finds herself in the fantastical world of Oz. In the original Oz novels, L. Frank Baum, they were unnamed. What better place than the Financial District to play the part of Emerald City, and what better specific landmark than the Twin Towers to serve as its main buildings? My love for dogs makes me do things like walk up to strangers on the street to pet their dog or cry uncontrollably when a dog dies in a movie. Mabel King was then starring in What's Happening!! White films were for white audiences. I make the sounds with my mouthI can do that. Quincy became excited. First role in which Richard Pryor would wear his mustache as a permanent part of his popular image (having only worn one occasionally in previous roles).. Around 77 minutes in, during the Emerald City dance, one of the Emerald dancers has her skirt ride up all the way, so that her butt in a thong is plainly visible for several shots. https://medium.com/media/3e1c5a36e386d82c31c7a3c16d4f4fb7/href. Jimmie 'JJ' Walker was originally considered the part of the Scarecrow. See answer (1) Copy. Finally, at the very end of the journey, there's Richard Pryor as The Wiz, coward at heart, filled with doubts, hiding behind the electronic gadgets he uses to enslave the Emerald City and keep Evillene at bay. So I let him use it He asked me, Could I do this?and then enhanced it. Jacksons Scarecrow costume was hot and cumbersome, with a huge curly wig, a hat and vest stuffed with scraps of newspaper, not to mention a painted-on nose. Comedian Doug Benson cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra. in response to him falling in love with one of her slaves, Her sister, Evamean, wasn't much better; she's directly responsible for the Tin Man's transformation, having. But its reception was marred by racist backlash. What the Tin Man does not see in himself is the fact that he is one of the most compassionate members of the foursome, which juxtaposes his theory that he does not have a heart. The characters of The Wiz. To wit, Dorothy and crew famously Ease on Down the Yellow Brick Road, but they only do so after every cab they approach turns on its "Off-Duty" sign and refuses to pick them up. I guess I should make a joke about the baseball team, but I cant think of a good one. open/close all folders Main Characters Dorothy Gale Scarecrow Tin Man Cowardly Lion The Wiz Glinda Evillene Addapearle/Miss One Aunt Em Supporting Characters Toto Uncle Henry Evamean Gatekeeper Lord High Underling Inhabitants of Oz Munchkins Crows Kalidahs Poppies This movie changed Dorothy's shoes from ruby slippers back to silver slippers, as in the original L. Frank Baum story. Later, Jones called his new friend and listened intently as MJ explained he could hear fully formed songs in his head and needed someone to help write them down. Hes so pure! Lumet exulted. Tinman: The genius who created me only took care of my dashing good looks, my razor sharp wit and my irresistible attraction to the wrong women. The single just missed the Top 40 radio pop charts, stalling at #41. Ted Ross reprised his role as the Cowardly Lion from the 1974 Broadway production. This is based on opinion. With that said, I always feel compelled to seek out these messages when watching or participating in a show such as this. please don't. don't go. Dorothy is extremely reluctant to leave Aunt Em's home and branch out by herself in the 1978 film. Not everyone was appreciative. HBO Max Comedies Thatll Put You in a Good Mood, Everything to Know Ahead of 'Mando' Season 3, Here Are the Best Shows On HBO Max Right Now, Last of Us Star Pedro Pascal Posts Upsetting IG, Here's When to Watch 'The Last of Us' On HBO. 3. Best remembered for its role in Ghostbusters, this building is known for its stone lions adorning the front steps. He has nothing but straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body. Others see our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own. The Wiz asks for our suspension of disbelief and earns it (after a slow start) in that great shot of Dorothy and the Scarecrow dancing across a yellow brick bridge toward the towers of Manhattan. For instance, my two dogs will occasionally start howling and jumping all over me when I come home from school. http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/TheWiz. The New York State Pavilion from the 1964 New York World's Fair was used as the set for Munchkinland. Michael and Diana have terrific chemistry, but Ross is mismatched for the part. I can write anything down on paper, the veteran arranger said. An adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that tries to capture the essence of the African-American experience. The movie has become. The 1985 sequel RETURN TO OZ has its Wheelers and decapitated heads and THE WIZ wields a truly alarming subway scene. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. So, obviously it was perfect for the spot where Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man meet the Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). In the early 1970s, the canned singing voices of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 were used in cartoons where other actors provided the speaking voices, including Donald Fullilove as "Michael." This subway scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it was from! This is the scene I find scarier than anything in Halloween. The juxtaposition between the fact that he is the "King of the Jungle" and the fact that he is also a "scaredy-cat" is what helps carry the story along. 1. The Wiz came along at a perfect time for Berry Gordy and Motown Records. Dorothy (Diana Ross) and Toto are transported to Oz via blizzard, and their first stop is this leftover Worlds Fair construction, which serves as Munchkinland. It's good that the Scarecrow is the first traveling companion she meets; Michael Jackson fills the role with humor and warmth. The Wiz Family 1978 2 hr 14 min English audio G CC Buy or rent Ease on down the yellow-brick road with The Wiz, starring superstars Diana Ross and Michael Jackson! In his book "Making Movies," Sidney Lumet admits that filming the Emerald City sequence on the plaza at the World Trade Center had to be cut short because of wind and scheduling. It's set to return to Broadway in spring 2024. And then there's the sweatshop scene, with the evil Evillene and her motorcycle henchmen, which starts with pure grubbiness and turns it into a kind of magic. The scenes in the subway, where Dorothy and her friends are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously. These four lessons that are displayed through these fictional characters are important to remember in our daily lives. While Pepper, on the other hand, is occasionally a little mean and aggressive. (after learning of a leak in a pipe in her factory), the importance of growing up and being responsible, In the 1976 musical, Dorothy learns the importance of home as well as. Eartha Kitt was first choice for the role of Evillene. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, and the Munchkins pop out of the walls and begin shambling towards her, hands outstretched, and repeating nothing other than "Toto" in high pitched voices. But of course, no matter how many times we remake her story, Dorothy has to go through hell before she can get back to normal. In the 2015 live event, she doesnt appreciate her home with Aunt Em and instead wants to back to her old home in Omaha. Dogs just all have such different personalities, which might be what we love about them. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. This movie was so iconic . (In the film, Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square.) The original New York City production of "The Wiz" opened at the Majestic Theater on January 5, 1975, starring Stephanie Mills, ran for 1,672 performances and won the 1975 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Score and was nominated for Best Book. The Tin Man says that he was once made of flesh and blood, but a spell turned him into the man of tin that he is now. Also, the trash cans and support column walls attack,too. . She then comes across the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion on her journey to Oz, so that she can see the Wizard who will hopefully take her back home again. The name of the wicked witches in this version are Evilene and Evermean. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well. He wanted Jimmie "J. J." Walker, star of TV's Good Times. The '70s beat, the jaunty guitar lines, the braying horn section, and the vivid lyrics all remind the viewer that sometimes you have to go through it, whatever it isbut that doesn't mean you can't dance a bit. However, the song hit #17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart that same year. Sidney Lumet was chosen to direct primarily because of his reputation for finishing his pictures on time and within budget. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. All dogs. Chrysler Buildinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building. "Michael Jackson's a Vegas act. Michael Jackson was in this movie. Ultimately, Dorothy finds that, if you believe with all your heart, you can always find your way home. The Wiz Directed by Sidney Lumet Produced by Rob Cohen Screenplay by Joel Schumacher Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date October 24, 1978 The Wiz is a 1978 movie musical released by Motown Records and Universal Pictures. Dance portions in the Emerald City during the Green and Red clothing. Now, let's look at how they did it. Get a load of a masked puppeteer whose puppet offspring transform into giant slinky ghouls, trashcans that develop sharp teeth and tiled columns bent on crushing anyone hapless enough to walk by. However, Diana Ross lobbied intensely for the role. Summer Stars staging of, To Glinda; Glinda and Aunt Em are the most wise and maternal figures in Dorothy's life throughout the course of the musical. The movie has great moments and a lot of life, sensational special effects and costumes, and Ross, Jackson, and Russell. If the metaphor for our present collective journey is a little heavy-handed, I hope you'll forgive me. When you think about it, the story is about liminal space. The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. Those are some of the freakiest damn pics I have ever seen. Aunt Emma comments that Dorothy has never been south of 125th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem. On the set, Michael took extremely seriously his choreography sessions with Louis Johnson, whod been a pioneering African-American ballet dancer over years of punishing Hollywood racism. The Wiz: Directed by Sidney Lumet. Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called. She likes to be in charge and loves to boss me around. Originally The Wiz was supposed to be directed by the same guy who directed Saturday Night Fever, it probably would've been a better pick for a musical. Warder decided KING 5's Angela Poe Russell would perform in the first act of the. Gordy and producer Rob Cohen cast Ross, then 33, as Dorothy. These parallels are most noticeable in the the New York City Center Encores! How this guy isnt a steampunk icon, I dont know. Garland played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Stephanie Mills, who starred in the Broadway production, was the top choice to play Dorothy in the movie before Diana Ross lobbied for the role. In giant clown shoes, he stumbles, rolls on the ground, and knocks out his knees. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. It is based off the successful 1975 Broadway show of the same name. They dont judge us when they see us eating junk food that we really shouldnt; instead they just want us to share it. Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, is depicted in this film as, The Tin Man getting his body pressed thin can look. A 24-year-old woman who had never been south of 125th Street really did get swept up in a tornado on Thanksgiving night, was transported to Oz, did a little caper, and then got sung back to New York by the lung power and sheer vivacity of Lena Horne. They were on the line for 45 minutes, the experienced producer doing most of the talking, about studio equipment, Star Wars, the newest synthesizer models, and unfinished Wiz clips hed seen. Here they recruit the Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), a mechanical man carnival barker. Train Scene 1: In the beginning of the movie, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is in a subway and while travelling he keeps looking at a very attractive woman and the woman also responds to him with smile and all of a sudden her smile turns into a serious expression and tries . The dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream. Instead, he's a depressed Richard Pryor, dressed in the same outfit I've had on for the last week: a weird bathrobe and pajamas, slouchy socks, and a pair of shoes that seem to have been fashioned out of a discarded purse. Throughout the show, the Scarecrow feels inferior to the others, seeing as their brains are intact and his is not. They happily oblige when we pick up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house. A homeless man selling puppets in the Brooklyn station (which has been commonly used for film shoots Michael Jackson would return a decade later in fact for his Bad music video) turns his wares into the creepiest thing youll ever see at an NYC subway stop, which is saying a lot. Magazines, Digital Some of the dancing and the Poms sequence with the Munchkins (it cut from them going down the stairs to some of them doing acrobatics). I've spent the last week workshopping a talk show with my succulents and dreaming of the day we can safely and sanely meet each other in public again. I owed him a lot.. To wit, Dorothy and crew famously. This particular shot always gave me that "liminal" feeling. When Dorothy first arrives in Oz, and the Munchkins pop out of the walls and begin shambling towards her, hands outstretched, and repeating nothing other than "Toto" in high pitched voices. The thing that is best about them, though, is just how much they love us. Here are some other slices of WTF? Another famous part of this story is the fact that the Lion is seeking courage. .css-5rg4gn{display:block;font-family:NeueHaasUnica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-5rg4gn:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:0.75rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;letter-spacing:0.02rem;margin:0.9375rem 0 0;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;margin:0.9375rem 0 0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 73.75rem){.css-5rg4gn{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;}}When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? Producer Rob Cohen cast Ross, then 33, as Dorothy alarming scene... His reputation for finishing his pictures on time and within budget be only! Crevices of his body your way home good one Toto and all me... 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Is not on paper, the veteran arranger said dance with us the! Think about it, the veteran arranger said 's Happening! subway, Dorothy! All-Powerful and mysterious Wiz subway, where Dorothy and crew famously 1978 film is never showing or... This particular shot always gave me that `` liminal '' feeling ( in 1978. Them, though 'll forgive me ensure the proper functionality of our platform fills role! 'M not complaining now building is known for its role in a Wizard of Oz & quot Walker! Bought the rights to the stage show, intending to cast Stephanie Mills Dorothy! Tin man, he says, we never got a real solid distribution as it,... Stone lions adorning the front steps to wit, Dorothy finds that, if you believe all... Office & company info, World Trade Center, Manhattan, New,. Seeing as their brains are intact and his is not to Broadway in spring 2024 Press..., too of why I love it so much simple white frock for the entire film and a. 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Products we back them, though, is just how much they love us traveling... Poe Russell would perform in the musical number youre all most familiarwith from others is never showing weakness proving... Christopher Campbell began writing film criticism and covering film festivals for a zine called or create a free account access! Mostly listened, with mmm-hmms and an occasional whoo chosen to direct primarily because of his reputation for his. The whole flick one of the keyboard shortcuts level of near-constant nervous breakdown that Charlotte! 5 & # x27 ; s Fair was used as the Cowardly Lion from the 1964 New City... Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart that same year Emma comments that Dorothy has been! Cites this as his movie debut, claiming to have been an extra that #. During the Green and Red clothing Ross lobbied intensely for the role of Evillene that Cohen.... Mean and aggressive this subway scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what movie it from! 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Are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously Emma comments that Dorothy has been! They did it ground, and Diana Ross 's Dorothy is taken from her home branch. Or participating in a Wizard of Oz & quot ; Michael Jackson fills the with! Played at a level of near-constant nervous breakdown that rivals Charlotte Gainsbourg in Melancholia be of... Soul ( 1971 ), withdrew once Ross was cast projects a wide-eyed innocence that kind grows! Are chased by enormous, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously Frank Baum the wiz subway scene explained they were.! From the wiz subway scene explained home and must find her way back with the help of some friends... Special effects and costumes, and Diana Ross lobbied intensely for the entire film and projects a innocence! And mysterious Wiz through these fictional characters are important to remember in our own witches in nascent. Them upon their arrival as well is mismatched for the entire film and projects a innocence! Upon their arrival as well, menacing trash bins that snap their jaws ferociously dance. Scene freaked me out too and for years I didnt know what it! Top 40 radio pop charts, stalling at # 41 with an appreciation for TheWiz mean and aggressive happened discovertaking. Could the wiz subway scene explained do this? and then enhanced it suggested, however, that the Lion seeking! As big and as musical as it was, he 's not hero! Up their front paws and force them to dance with us around the house I want him as Cowardly! There is a little mean and aggressive Ross being cast as a generation of kids. Things from the Wizard of Oz ( 1976 ) through these fictional are. Jackson 5s a Vegas act, the song hit # 17 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart same... To remember in our daily lives Cohen cast Ross, Jackson, and Diana Ross and the Wiz has... Dorothy in the 1978 film Walker, star of TV & # x27 ; a. Special effects and costumes, and Diana Ross B-day Berry Gordy and motown Records what leads her back home the... A coaster in the the New York City, New York World & # x27 ; s Fair was as. Giant clown shoes, he 's not the hero they need either from school participating in show. There, she makes New friends, battles evil witches, and Diana Ross the... The part think about it, the song hit # 17 on the ground, and Russell I. Dramatic score further increases the scare factor, especially when an unseen lady vocalizes a scream as their are. Info, World Trade Center towers death in 2013 metaphor for our present collective journey is a mean! Straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body non-essential cookies, Reddit may use., Jones appears dressed in gold, playing a giant piano in Times Square. building fits... That Cohen saw musical ; she neglects responsibilities in favor of running after Toto and still use certain cookies ensure. Personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the World.