| King Pastoria of Oz | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Pastoria of Oz |
|
First Appearance |
The Wizard of Oz (Stage Play) - 1902 |
|
Original Publisher |
Reilly & Britton |
|
Created by |
L. Frank Baum |
Origin[]
Book:
Pastoria was introduced as the last king who ruled Oz, before the Wizard arrived. The evidence suggested that he was dead but, this was never proven in any of Baum's works.
It is unclear if he ever actually ruled Oz like his father before him. Princess Ozma would later say that all Ozian rulers were called "Oz," if male, and "Ozma," if female; the fact that her father had a personal name makes it questionable as to whether he had the chance to actually rule as King, before being captured by Mombi.
Stage Play:
Baum actually created the character of Pastoria for the 1902 stage musical, The Wizard of Oz, freely adapted from his book. At the start of that play, King Pastoria II has been banished from Oz and is working as a street car conductor in America, with a waitress girlfriend named Trixie Tryfle. By the second act, Pastoria is restored to his Emerald City throne and orders all who allied with the Wizard (including the four classic protagonists) to be executed for treason by beheading. Of course, the four characters (Dorothy Gale, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion) and the Wizard each escape. Nothing of the stage character but his name made it into Baum's books.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Stage:
- The Wizard of Oz
Books:
- The Marvelous Land of Oz (mentioned)
- Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (mentioned)
Notes[]
There is some confusion as to whether or not he is "King Patoria the First" or "the Second?" In the stage play, he is designated as "King Pastoria II" however, in the books, he is simply "King Pastoria" and, it is stated, that "every male ruler before him was named 'Oz" making it impossible for him to be second.