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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">The wait for "The Wiz" is over,
but it needs more time to “EASE” in</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">by Neda Spears</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt">(Performance seen on October 10th, 2023)</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">As a Black
performer growing up, I was always excited to see new works that featured
mostly, if not all, Black casts. Musicals like DREAMGIRLS, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN,
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND and THE COLOR PURPLE all had success in their initial
outings and have gone on to be revived on Broadway and beyond. THE WIZ has been
the exception up until now. The music was very well known due to it having commercial airplay from the success of the movie, but the show itself was seldom, if ever, done. My
excitement at hearing that a new iteration </span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">was being staged, </span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">which would have its troublesome script
updated, was palpable.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">The music of
The Wiz is unmatched. Every one of the performers in this production is
impressive, and their range is on point. I admit that sometimes the vocal riffs
from <a name="m_7826244164206180662__Int_2Q8pAD6w">each and every</a> character seemed a bit much
when it happened on <a name="m_7826244164206180662__Int_knR40kPP">almost every</a> song, but that did
not necessarily take away my enjoyment of hearing the singer. The problem, yet
again, is the script. Even with the additional dialogue, written in part by
comedian and writer Amber Ruffin (who has a sense of humor that, though not
always necessarily funny, always has a point of view), there was hardly
anything between scenes to set up the songs. Many of them are only separated by
a single line that introduces the next character as if to say, “we all know the
story; let’s just move on.” I was also dismayed to see that there was no
discernable set and only a few pieces to separate different scenes. A
production such as this with so much (supposed) money behind it I would think
would look a little more lavish. The staging of certain parts also brought me
up short, particularly the one introducing the Lion. His song, “I’m a Mean Ol’
Lion” is meant to intimidate the other characters, but instead seems more like
a game of hide and seek. And Glinda’s entrances in both the first and second
act were woefully underwhelming. I audibly gasped when I saw that the actor <a name="m_7826244164206180662__Int_LXfH5QjV">just</a> walked out from backstage with no fanfare
whatsoever. A light change and/or smoke effect would have been sufficient.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">I was more
than happy to see this new interpretation of a show which should be seen and
enjoyed again. My hope is that as it moves its way across the country,
audiences and critics feedback will strengthen and uplift this show so that by
the time it gets to Broadway, it will be as close to a flawless show as
possible and that it will be a production that will be an inspiration for Black
performers-and all others- for years to come.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">See this show if you can, and know that it IS good. I just wish it was WAY better. Maybe I can click my silver heels together 3 times and hope.<span></span></span></p>
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