‘The Wiz’ revival eases on back to Broadway

‘THE WIZ’: Wayne Brady (center) & cast. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

THE WIZ
Book by William F. Brown
Additional material by Amber Ruffin
Score by Charlie Smalls
Directed by Schele Williams
Choreography by Jaquel Knight
Marquis Theatre
1535 Broadway at 45th Street
(877-250-2929), www.WizMusical.com

By David NouNou

Believe it or not, it was the original The Wiz that actually saved Broadway in the 1970s. Broadway was dangerous—from 42nd Street going northbound, there was a lot of crime and drugs. Geoffrey Holder, the great director and designer, reimagined The Wizard of Oz as an Afro-centric fantasy and turned it into one of the most exciting, original, and innovative musicals. It rescued the commercial New York theatre industry and started filling seats on Broadway.

This version is not as innovative or clever as the original production. Sure, it still has the classics of “Ease on Down the Road,” “Believe in Yourself,” “Home,” and “He’s The Wiz,” but now it uses more camp than genuine humor. The humor here, in most cases, seems a bit forced. However, this is still a fun show.

Dorothy (Nichelle Lewis) gets caught in a tornado, her house splits, and lands in Oz, killing the Wicked Witch of the East. There is no Toto nor any munchkins here. Glinda is the Good Witch of the South (played by the ever-gorgeous Deborah Cox). She warns Dorothy to put on the silver sneakers and never give them to the Wicked Witch of the West because they are the only thing that will keep her safe and get her back to Kansas. In order to do that, she has to go see the Wizard to grant her wish.

Along the way she meets the Strawman, who like to be called Dorothy (Avery Wilson, who needs a brain). Next is the Tinman (Philip Johnson Richardson), a rusty old tinman who wants a heart to feel.  Finally, the cowardly lion (Kyle Ramar Freeman) is seeking courage. They join forces to see the Wizard and are derailed by Evillene (Melody A. Betts), making them go through a poppy field.

They eventually wake up, end up in Oz and meet the Wizard (Wayne Brady), and what a handsome Wizard he makes. He asks them for proof that they killed Evillene. By now he has shown himself as a fraud and flees. With the help of Glinda, they all possessed what they wanted but had to find out for themselves.

Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy is a delight and has a lovely singing voice. Wayne Brady is dynamic and charming as The Wiz. R&B legend Deborah Cox is one of the show’s highlights, and her powerful vocals on such songs as “He’s the Wiz” with Addaperle (Allyson Kaye Daniel) and the townspeople are a bright spot in the first act. The direction by Schele Williams isn’t exactly crisp or original.  It relies mostly on cheap jokes, letting the actors do their thing with very loose discipline until it gets a laugh.  Jaquel Knight’s choreography is rhythmic and delightful. If you want to relive the fun of The Wiz, this is the time for it.

Editor’s note: This is the last review by David Nounou, written two days before he passed away on April 27, 2024. Everyone at StageZine remembers David fondly and we all miss him.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published May 9, 2024
Reviewed at April 24, 2024 press performance

‘THE WIZ’: Deborah Cox & Nichelle Lewis. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘THE WIZ’: Kyle Ramar Freeman, Nichelle Lewis, Phillip Johnson Richardson & Avery Wilson. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘THE WIZ’: Deborah Cox. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘THE WIZ’: The cast. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.

‘THE WIZ’: Nichelle Lewis & Melody A. Betts. Photo: Jeremy Daniel.