The Wizard Of One

I was blown away by how the performer manages to perfom as multiple characters each with their own specific mannerisms, their way of talking, and make it look effortless.

This was an amazing performance!

One actor seamlessly and fluidly shifting between 12 characters each with a different voice. It's a very imaginative retelling of the Wizard of Oz in a retirement home and a reflection on aging with lots of comedic moments that had the audience laughing.

I didn’t know what to expect but as a seasoned fringer, i couldn’t have been more enthralled and enamoured. Great acting and very well written. Funny and poignant, this show was beautifully, respectfully executed.

It was polished and professional and heartfelt. I generally don't see shows twice, but I’m making this an exception.

A clever and heartfelt reimagining of The Wizard of Oz set in a senior retirement community. The biggest standout is watching one performer seamlessly shift between 12 different characters, giving each one a distinct personality and making the one-man format feel surprisingly full. Fans of the original story will appreciate how familiar characters and ideas are reworked in a warm, funny new setting without losing the heart of the source material. A wholesome, charming Fringe palate cleanser that left me wanting to tell others to go support this performer.

For one person to seamlessly change from character to character, being able to portray dialogue between multiple characters in a conversation without ambiguity as to who is talking is such a talent! We thoroughly enjoyed this show!!

What a great retelling of the classic Wizard of Oz story in a new setting! Watching one man seamlessly shift to many characters so well was really impressive. My 6 year old wasn’t such a fan of the one man show but my 10 year old and I both loved it. This is a show that I would say is good for anyone that has seen and loved the original and also wants to admire the commitment shown to do a one man show with many characters done well. The actor briefly talked to the audience after the show and his genuine appreciation for us to come was so heartfelt it made me want to tell everyone to come out to support him. Nice to have a wholesome palate cleanser at the fringe and this show fits the bill.

Who needs the Wizard of Oz when you can have the Wizard of One? A singular actor who can master every role sounds like a dream, doesn't it? The Wizard of One is a solo reimagining of the Wizard of Oz…except it’s set in a retirement home. The characters face challenges that are quite different from the original tale. The artists succeeded in turning a well-known classic into a new, humorous story that is simple yet effective.

Using distinct voices, physicality, and mannerisms, Neil James was able to breathe life into all 12 characters of the show. Along with his incredible acting, he pushed the plot forward using barely any props and stage space, dropping in cleverly integrated jokes along the way. The different voices and body language that James used were quite dorky, for lack of a better word, and they only added to the already spectacular comedic element. Another aspect of the show that made the audience chuckle was the hilarious fight sequences, emphasized by a goofy yet dramatic underscore.

The lighting and sound design weren’t anything to sleep on. Aside from the underscores during fight scenes, sound design included a lovely homage to the Wizard of Oz by playing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” during the opening scene of the show. A commonly used lighting element throughout the show was the use of cooler washes during the villainous, dramatic scenes, and warmer washes during the lighthearted, comedic scenes. I do wish there were more frequent changes in lighting, but for what the setup had to offer, the technical elements of the show did not miss.

The Wizard of One is definitely not a show to look past. It’s always lovely to see what a classic tale can become when put in the hands of a creative mind.

A clever (and funny) adaptation of a well known story. It’s amazing how Neil plays so many characters and you never feel lost. In fact, they come alive and feel real (and fun!). Let the cyclone take you away!

phenomenal!! i didn’t really know what to expect going into it but this is a display of insane talent and a must see this fringe year!!

Wizard of One was an absolute thrill to experience! The adventurous story telling of Neil James brought this well known story to dizzying new heights. Neil’s remarkable talent weaves humour, with subtle deep cuts of the original story to bring a whole lot of heart, brains and courage to this incredible retelling. An experience that felt as if I were enthralled in the Wizard of Oz for the first time again. A deep heartfelt thank you to the talent and crew for that! An absolute MUST SEE at this year’s Edmonton Fringe Festival!!!

Not only did I dig every moment of this show, but even my skeptical partner was blown away! Neil absolutely slayed the voices and physicality of so many characters and there are so many witty call backs to Wizard of Oz! We were charmed and so impressed!

Do not miss this show! What a wonderful hommage to The Wizard of Oz, yet The Wizard of One is able to stand on its own as an enjoyable, feel good story. I don't know how he manages to juggle so many characters at the same time! Definitely one to keep on your radar to see.

Whether you’ve seen the Wizard of Oz or not this show will capture your attention. Imagine one man on stage playing all the main characters plus several supporting characters with a very up-to-date vibe to the Story. It’s incredibly difficult to play two characters in a dialogue, but Neil plays four at once. If you don’t catch this show in Calgary, don’t miss it in Edmonton. It’s gonna be a hot ticket.

The Wizard of One set in a seniors' home is a hilarious. Watching a single performer masterfully bring 12 distinct characters to life with such precision and seamless organization was incredible. A standout show at Calgary Fringe—funny, razor-sharp, and extremely enteraining!

I wish I could put as much passion in my work as Neil put into this.

Such a wild feat for 1 man to perform so many characters so well.

What do you get when you have one man and multiple characters to portray? You'd guess chaos, but the portrayal of each character was expertly done from distinct voices to unique mannerisms. This take on the Wizard of Oz but in an retirement home was amazing!

Unique take on the Wizard of Oz, really well done.

The One Man Show Bringing You Oz: Senior Edition

The Wizard of One is an incredible one man show where The Wizard of Oz is now in a nursing home. Neil brings something fresh to the table by spinning the old classic into something unique that still respects the original. We also gotta give some snaps to the creator of the playwright, Amos Altman.

For a theatre production with so many characters, Neil played each character without any need of costumes ( except the clothes on his back, a nod to Dorothy’s outfit which I loved personally) he gave clear and distinct portrayals that never made you second guess which character he’s playing, his transitions were completely seamless and clearly he gave each character special love while crafting them. Without any use of props and only the back curtain as a backdrop, Neil used lighting very cleverly, one of the main easy to spot uses for it was creating an elevator. Speakers using background music was a nice touch really bringing the piece to life. All these in mind results in an incredibly high level of storytelling and performing solo.

The production was beyond incredible and was thrilling to watch, it kept everyone engaged and easy to tell Neil loves the classic tale and is passionate about bringing a story to life. If he decides to do some spins on other classics you’ll find me front row and center eager to watch!

wow wow, wow amazing job of one person showing all these different characters in the nursing home

The Wizard of One ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Neil’s love for The Wizard of Oz is unmistakable—and in The Wizard of One, that passion becomes a vehicle for something truly special. Reimagining the classic tale within the setting of an old age home, he brings a fresh, poignant perspective to a story we all know and love.

Playing every character himself, Neil offers clear, distinct portrayals that never leave the audience guessing. Each role is carefully crafted, and the transitions are seamless. What results is a masterclass in solo performance and storytelling.

At its heart, The Wizard of One is a celebration—not just of Oz, but of the power of imagination and performance. It’s brilliant, heartfelt theatre that proves what one passionate artist can do with a timeless story and a stage.