THE WIZ Is Not Ready to Ease on Down to Broadway

.THE WIZ.Kyle Ramar Freeman as Lion, Avery Wilson as Scarecrow, Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, and Phillip Johnson Richardson as Tinman. Photo by Jeremy Daniel, (c) 2023

I want to begin by saying that the cast of this new version of THE WIZ is phenomenal. They all have fantastic voices and energy. I also want to make it clear that updating the production is a great way to continue the legacy of the original film and stage play. It attracts a new and younger audience. Gives them something they can relate to.

The issue is with the script, design, direction, blocking, and some of the costuming.

I was blessed to have seen the original stage production on Broadway with Stephanie Mills and Dorothy and the Broadway Touring Company with Renee Harris as Dorothy.  Both productions were magical and clean. It didn’t venture too far from the story of the film “The Wizard of OZ” but it put the Black Culture and flavor to it.  It wasn’t rushed, loud, or too over the top. It was more of an acting experience with music and dancing and not focused on the musical performance without much acting.

Walking into the theatre I expected to see a bright curtain that made me wonder what was on the other side. The curtain was rather plain and sort of dull.  The set had set pieces that framed the stage sort of like a picture frame, but it was distracting and cut off some sight lines. It felt cramped and tight. 

Dorothy (Nichelle Lewis) is older and having what I would think are teen problems moving to a new place. Nichelle’s voice is out of this world. Her costume is up to date for today’s time, but it blends in so much it seems dull compared to everyone else. Melody A. Betts’ Aunt Em is also amazing and plays the role of the caring and loving aunt. The farmhouse set is nice, however, that is where the production goes south.

The tornado is not effective at all.  It was not impressive or seemed to have no rhyme or reason. When Dorothy lands in OZ everyone is running around on stage, the house that landed on the witch is so far upstage that those of us who were not seated at a higher level couldn’t see the house, the shoes, or Dorothy. 

What was cute was the T-shirts advertising the death of the Wicked Witch and the bright costumes of the people in OZ and then it goes south again.

The Witch Addaperle (Allyson Kaye Daniel) had just the right amount of sass and humor. I couldn’t wait for her to sing “He’s the Wiz.” But she didn’t. All of a sudden Glenda “The Good Witch,” (Deborah Cox) comes out of a door and sings the song, which makes no sense at all. Addaperle is the sassy one, and Glenda is the classy one.  She wouldn’t sing that song, nor would she come through the door of a house.  There was no magic.

The costuming was spot on in some places and so wrong in others.  I couldn’t tell if the Lion was wearing a diaper or a skirt. Even though he was a coward he is still a lion and should have been presented as strong even though he thought he wasn’t.

The standout character to me was The Tin Man played by Phillip Johnson Richardson. He brought a heart to his character. It wasn’t about belting out a song but acting and feeling.

I missed the Wizard going from a con man to a man who becomes human. This production has a con man at the beginning and a con man at the end. They chose to have Dorothy tell the scarecrow, lion, and Tin Man that they already had what they wanted instead of the Wizard. That took away his redemption. Instead, his character was rather one-dimensional. That being said, Alan Mingo, Jr. did a fabulous playing the part he was given.

Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow gave us just the right amount of being brainless, and he can sing his butt off.

Melody Betts returns as Evillene and belts out her songs and brings the house down.  It was a funny moment when she kept burning up her minions. However, I hate to mention the clumsy demise of Evillene. It wasn’t a standout moment

Why did Glenda enter from stage right and walk on stage to sing “Believe in Yourself?”  The night before I saw “A Christmas Carol” and Scrooge was flying all over the stage, but the director of the WIZ had Glenda, the beautiful, good witch walk on from stage right, sing her song, and walk off. This production reminded me of an entertaining but low-budget production. The songs became the show, but the story, feeling, and magic were lost.

I could go on and on about this production that is supposed to go to Broadway and represent the amazing creators, designers, and actors who went before them and who brought the story through acting, song, dance, and magic (in that order) to all of us and made memories that will last a lifetime.

This production is an enjoyable evening of great singing and energy, but it is not an experience.  The WIZ is definitely not ready for the Broadway stage.

I give THE WIZ 2 out of 5 winks of the EYE.

Until next time keep your EYE to the sky!