The wait for "The Wiz" is over, but it needs more time to “EASE” in by Neda Spears (Performance seen on October 10th, 2023) 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 was being staged, which would have its troublesome script updated, was palpable. 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 each and every character seemed a bit much when it happened on almost every 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 just walked out from backstage with no fanfare whatsoever. A light change and/or smoke effect would have been sufficient. 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. 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.