I saw the performance last Saturday (10-14-06). In size, the theater is quite similar to the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The show was sold out. It was quite evident that this local production had a significant financial backing. The set was extensive, industrial looking with intricate concert lighting, video monitors, and amazing sound effects. Sounds of crows, wind, and thunder greeted the audience. The 10-piece(?)orchestra was situated on the custom-built balcony. There was a stadium-type seating surrounding a round stage that rotated ala-Les Miz style and connected to the audience via ramps and stairways to simulate the yellow brick road (not painted yellow). There were no roller bladders or skateboarders. For seamless scene changes, sets, props, & cast members were hoisted from above or raised from the retracting centerpiece of the platform. Two big video screens were installed on both sides on the rear of the stage. It wasn’t your standard curtain-type stage. This was quite impressive.
I’ve distanced myself from the 1978 Sidney Lumet film version to see this update with fresh eyes.
Let me start with my critique: The enlarged video monitors, the metal trusses, to Dorothy’s DVR, DVD, and satellite dish, the great costumes and special effects, right up to the hip-hop club at Oz, the production design was entertaining and visually stunning but it completely swallowed the small theater and may have overshadowed some scenes. It was a little tough to turn my head every time the cast goes to the yellow brick road located in the middle of the audience. The “Poppy Field” scene was beautifully done but, was quite irrelevant to the story. The demise of the grand dame Evilene was too quick with no fan fare, yet her “on-your-face” presence was relentless from the start of the show. Toto, who turns to a human being in Oz, was a little strange and the “Toto-cam" was pointless. The constant mention of the “WWW” (referring to a code to avoid Evilene from showing up and short for the 3rd surviving evil witch) was a little bit overdone. Pettiford’s Glinda, the "good-ole-here-comes-my-hero” grand wizardry entrance was beautiful. Looking and sounding like Vanessa Williams, “If You Believe” was sung flawlessly but it lacked the emotion and luster. If she could only stand still and connect to the audience, it could have been better delivered. To make it worse, she exits the scene via a scooter/segway type of vehicle which made her "wizadry" less believable.
And now, the good: Nikki James’ vocals were so pliable, with sweetness to her notes and a powerhouse to belt the higher octaves. Her duets with the leads were seamless and blended perfectly. Valarie Pettiford (Aunt Em & Glinda) was beautiful and sung powerfully. Orville Mendoza (Uncle Henry) was perfectly cast, with a wit and talent to change his accent from a Kansas native to a hilarious flamboyant Gatekeeper with a wonderful Filipino accent. Heather Lee’s Addaperle was witty, shallow and ditzy as how the character was recreated. I can’t seem to tune out her Broadway “Tessie Tura." Dorothy’s 3 other allies on her quest to Oz: Rashad Naylor as Scarecrow and Michael Benjamin as Tinman, were also as talented but, Tituss Burgess, the Lion, brought the house down with his hilarious portrayal of the recreated now-gay-lion character and his very emotional and powerful “Be a Lion.” The Wiz was just like the Wizard in Wicked…he’s there, he’s grand, but…it was just blah. But, David Alan Grier was a good actor and not a bad singer. Michael’s more soulful Tinman was also quite effective and his comical dialogue, funny. I was looking forward to my favorite song…the song that ended Dorothy’s journey from this crazy hip-hop, blinged-out Oz world, Nikki was definitely a star. Maybe it was me, but I only wished she didn’t adlib the notes too much that it almost didn’t sound like the original composition. (Paging Mariah Carey…..Christina Aguilera?) But….the audience loved it, and I gave her a standing ovation.
Overall, it was very entertaining. Would I recommend it? Of course, I would. And I'm sure with some tweaking (plea to Des!), this production may just work on Broadway. Nikki may even get a nod for her performance. We shall see next year.
"I love acting. It is so much more real than life." Oscar Wilde
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley
Updated On: 10/16/06 at 09:37 PM
