For such a sweet, innocent tale that can be enjoyed whether you’re 5 or 85, the back story to The Wizard of Oz is rather tumultuous. Most people know about poor Judy Garland and all those crazy pills they put her on, or the mistreatment of the Munchkin actors—but the scandals weren’t all of a gloomy nature. Written by Irvine Welsh and Dean Cavanagh, Babylon Heights is set in a Culver City hotel room in 1938 during the filming of the classic movie. Rife with Munchkins, opium, malt whiskey and drunken orgies (Hey! Watch those pointy shoes!), Babylon Heights comically details that what happens in Oz doesn’t necessarily stay in Oz.
Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Starts: May 22. Continues through June 20, 2009
