Through 10/22
Time to ease on down a brand-new yellow brick road? Absolutely.
Dorothy and her friends get a gorgeous re-imagining in The Wiz at Playhouse Square. The show’s revival, now on pre-Broadway tour, mixes old and new, with book by William F. Brown, music by Charlie Smalls, and additions by Amber Ruffin. The all-Black cast flaunts a fabulous look that doesn’t rely on big names. (And that’s not to say we’re not looking at future stars.)
In Oz’s latest reincarnation, director Schele Williams makes a fantastic musical mash-up of Frank Baum’s fantasy The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), Judy Garland’s Wizard of Oz (1939), and the previous Tony-winning The Wiz (1975). Throughout the show the stage fills with music from a small pit orchestra directed by Paul Byssainthe, Jr., with credit to creators Joseph Joubert, Allen René Louis, and Derek Dixie.
The Wiz’s versatile ensemble sells JaQuel Knight’s inventive choreography and creates fresh magic with their excellent timing, quirky identities and synchronized moves. Everyone deserves a big shout out: Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.
A black-and-white world greets us when the curtain opens to reveal a farmhouse set in front of a Grant Wood scene (hills, fluffy white clouds). Young Dorothy (Nichelle Lewis) and her loving Aunt Em (Melody A. Betts) are busy taking clothes off the line when they notice a tornado coming and then — (well, you know) — Dorothy is swept into Oz.
Suddenly the set oozes color. The vibe is New Orleans — welcome, musical and friendly. We know we’re off to a fine sightseeing trek to Oz thanks to scenic design by Hannah Beachler, costume design by Sharen Davis, lighting design by Ryan J. O’Gara and wig design by Mia Neal.
Yes, Auntie Em’s tornado-driven house crushes a witch, but all we can see of the dead witch are her big silver slippers. Everyone tells the lost girl to put them on. So Dorothy, now wearing silver slippers, leaves after the gorgeously gowned Glinda the Good Witch (a bewitchingly melodic Deborah Cox) tells her to follow the Yellow Brick road to find the Wizard. But of course. Off she sets, all alone (no little dog Toto in this version).
But she’s not alone for long. First friend made? Scarecrow, an affable and appealing Avery Wilson. “You Can’t Win” as sung by Wilson and crows (clad in flowing gauzy feathers) is an absolute winner.
Dorothy and the Scarecrow keep on the road to Oz and soon meet the cowardly Lion (Kyle Ramar Freeman) and the Tinman (Phillip Johnson Richardson). Freeman and Johnson also make their improbable characters relatable as they all “Ease on Down the Road.”
When Dorothy and her team make it to Emerald City, they watch varied dance routines done by a now-all emerald green ensemble on an emerald green stage. (Yes, they know style — there’s pop, ballet, etc., but that episode went on a bit too long.)
At last, we meet The Wiz (a timid Alan Mingo, Jr.) and he sends them to the evil witch (Melody A. Betts, see above, she was Auntie Em). Now in complete character reversal, Betts’ wicked witch belts out “Don’t Bring Me No Bad News” and just steals my heart. (I’ve got a new anthem now, so watch out.)
Yep, you guessed it, finally clicking her shoes, revved up by Glinda’s “Believe in Yourself,” our Dorothy arrives back where she started and sings “Home.” (No Auntie Em, no Toto, no reunion with farm hands who look like Scarecrow, Tinman, or Lion. Oh well, all new day.)
BOTTOM LINE: Memorable fresh look at classic favorite. Give yourself a treat and be one of the first to see what will likely be a major force next spring.