As the torrid days of a Sarasota summer continue, who wouldn’t like a fantasy getaway? If you can’t quite run to a world cruise due to time or money constraints, you can at least head for the beloved escape of The Wizard of Oz, currently onstage at the Cook Theatre in a “Youth Edition” Asolo Rep production.

Derived from the classic 1939 movie musical, this Wizard is a bit condensed (by John Kane, originally for the Royal Shakespeare Company), clocking in at a mere 75 minutes with no intermission. But it doesn’t feel truncated, sticking closely enough to the film’s screenplay and instantly recognizable songs (by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg) that those who grew up watching the movie on TV every year can still recite to themselves much of the dialogue and lyrics.

The production (which I saw at a preview performance) is also proof that L. Frank Baum’s story of the spunky Dorothy Gale (Aria Rayes) and her journey from Kansas to Oz doesn’t need Technicolor or major special effects to tell the tale or touch the heart. As directed and choreographed by Cat Brindisi, we get enough of the magic through just a handful of brightly attired Munchkins using hand puppets to steer Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road, or by shadow puppetry behind a scrim to toss characters and animals around during the tornado sequence. The Wicked Witch of the West (Ellie Papataros) still gets to manufacture some smoke and light to appear or disappear, and one winged monkey can stand in for her legions.

The cast, largely young Florida-based actors (some recent FSU/Asolo Conservatory grads), are good at doubling up when needed, with Zach Harris switching smoothly from the mild-mannered Uncle Henry to the showy Wizard, or Angelina Carballo from the beleaguered Auntie Em to the glamorous Glinda. As in the movie, the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man are also farmhands Hunk (Alex Hatcher), Zeke (Jake Tottle) and Hickory (Tin Tran). And Ashley Brooke Hayward makes for an adorable Toto once Dorothy reaches Oz. (In the more prosaic Kansas, the dog is portrayed by, well, a mop.)

The show moves along briskly, but not so briskly that it doesn’t make us care about these iconic characters. And while faithful to the film, this production does offer a surprise or two of its own toward the end.

With an engaging cast, effective costuming by Jordan Jeffers, a simple but functional scenic design by Natalie Eslami, cinematic lighting by Will Johnson, sound design by Matthew Parker and musical direction by Carl Haan, this Wizard captures the essence of one of the most popular stories ever told. It runs through Aug. 2; for tickets, call (941) 351-8000 or go to asolorep.org.