THE WIZ First Preview Thoughts

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 7:04pm

To any and all attending tonight's first preview performance of City Center's Encorces! Summer Stars series' production of THE WIZ, please post your thoughts, comments, and opinions here. To cast and crew, here's to a successful first outing.

Best,
- Mike

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:52pm

Anyone, anyone?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/12/09 at 11:52pm

I was there tonight, and unfortunately I found the evening to be pretty bland, save for LaChanze. It's not horrible or anything, just very mediocre.

I know many here, including myself, were expecting the worst from Ashanti. She's FAR from the trainwreck I feared she might be, but she's merely serviceable in the role. Her singing is better than her acting, which is actually not very good. She has one or two facial expressions and absolutely zero charisma. She is stiff onstage and just doesn't have what it takes to hold the cast together.

It's funny because I got used to her voice and was starting to think it was pretty decent. Then LaChanze came out and sang "Believe In Yourself." When Ashanti started up "Home" it was a stark reminder that her singing wasn't actually all that strong.

Orlando Jones was kind of a mess as the Wiz. "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" was alright, but his act 2 song and speech giving out the brain, heart and courage were almost painful.

Tichina Arnold was especially disappointing as Evillene. She had all the attitude and nothing to back it up. I know it's hard to live up to Mabel King, but so many other people could have done a better job.

The Lion was the best of the three comrades Dorothy meets. The Tin Man had a great voice, but his tapping failed to wow. The scarecrow has the weakest of the three parts, and Christian Dante White didn't make all that much of an impression.

For the budget I thought the direction was strong and often clever. The way the orchestra was set up made the stage seem so tiny and there just wasn't a lot of room to work with. Still, Thomas Kail worked with what he had.

The audience was going crazy the entire show. Every single actor received entrance applause, and often exit applause. Obviously not quite so rowdy, but it almost reminded of [tos] enthusiasm. They had decided it was brilliant before stepping in the theater and were determined not to be disappointed.

Overall this is not a must-see, unless you adore the score and/or LaChanze.

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 9:53am

Where they put the orchestra ? Not behind the actor,this time ? And the tornado ? How they staged it ? Thank you for answer me.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 11:16am

The orchestra, which is kind of a "funk band" like in "Hair", is behind the actors. It's just in this wooden treehouse looking set piece.

There is a stairway that weaves down around the orchestra, but it's not really utilized to its full potential. They do sound wonderful though, as usual.

The tornado was staged as a dance/ballet. At the climax the ensemble pick up pieces of the house and dance around Dorothy with it. She is carried on a board through the dancers until she set down on the Wicked Witch of the East.

[willrogers2008]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 12:54pm

Thank you for answer me.

[legally_popular]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 5:19pm

LimelightMike - was it you wanting to see what the playbill looks like? Well my friends were at the first preview too and one of them took a picture of the playbill, so here it is:

[Lefou]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 6:25pm

The word bland was exactly what I was looking for Whizzer.. I was there first row mezz last night, and though I had an enjoyable time, its not something (like when I saw Gypsy there) I thought to myself, my god this deserves a transfer, but with tweaking of the set and some of the cast, there could really be something there. After seeing Ashanti in the Wicked benefit and listening to snippets of HOME I knew she had the pipes for the role and she did not dissapoint on that front. Her vocals were rock solid (save for part of Be a Lion where she sounded a bit strained) But otherwise her voice was spot on. Unfortunatly, I cannot say the same thing for her acting...Her lines arent exactly the most profound statements ever, but she was bland of the delivery for the most part, waiting till she could wail her next song. LaChanze was obviously the standout, though she was only in 2 scenes she opened and closed the show beautifully. The woman is a glorious beauty and has the most clear and crystalline voice ever. I enjoyed the chemistry between the four adventures (the best I felt was the Tinman, played very gently by Joshua Henry). Evilene usually steals the show for me, but there was something so lackluster and almost bawdy about Tricina Arnold's portrayl (never have beeen a fan, really). The choreography was interestingly integrated with musical theater and hip hop, a delicate balance that if thrown off could make for an ugly evening of the WIZ. The set was also kind of blah to me for the most part...the house was neat for a second then it got old, and the set was very minimal (without looking cheap, a trick ENCORES uses quite well.) The costumes were good, nothing spectacular, but it did not subtract from my experience.

All in all, an enjoyable evening, but nothing I would rush back to see...and not something I can forsee transfering unless revamped. But the audience loved every second of it which was the most important part!

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 6:59pm

Really? I was at the Wicked 5th Anniversary Benefit Concert in October and I thought Ashanti sounded awful on "Defying Gravity." But, I did see a clip of her singing "Home" and didn't think it was that bad. Regardless, I'm seeing the show this week.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 6:59pm

Lefou- how crowded was the mezz? I was in the orchestra, which seemed to be sold out.

I 100% agree with you about Evillene. I am her song should stop the show and instead I felt it landed like a dud.

Like you always said, the book isn't startling profund (nor is it trying to be), but that's all the more reason the actors need to have heaps of chemistry and charisma. What a missed opportunity this was.

[Lefou]

Posted: 6/13/09 at 10:05pm

The mezz was virtually sold out actually...a few seats here and there but for the most part it looked pretty full. And agreed about the missed opportunity, however I would kill for a recording of Lachanze doing Believe in Yourself..SO good!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 12:13am

Lefou- I tried to respond to your PM, but right now you are set to not accept them.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 12:40am

Ah! Well, I can't say I'm surprised by the mixed bag thus far. They are only starting performances. I have confidence that they'll grow more akin and accutomed to bettering the delivery leading to opening night on Thursday. From the video footage that's been posted, it sounds nice enough. As an all-too-important aside, thanks a million, legally_popular! Looks GREAT!
Updated On: 6/14/09 at 12:40 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 9:00am

Let me make one thing clear, I do not like The Wiz. It's not a favorite show of mine, but I went last night for three reasons-
1) It's Encores!, and they usually do a good job.
2) My ticket was $25.
3) If Sondheim likes it, maybe there's something there I'm missing.

Well, unfortunately this production isn't all that great. The cast worked hard and put on professional performances, but no one really stood out for me. The set was bizarre. The choreography just seemed very repetative and weird. And the show itself is no masterpiece either.
However, this will be a huge summertime hit. The black community will flock to it (as they did last night), it will probably get good reviews and Ashanti will get enough people to buy tickets. However, The Wiz is just not my type of show. I had more fun at 9 to 5 and Wicked.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 12:29pm

When will the reviews come out? Did the critics already go?

[RyToast1]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 12:42pm

Official opening is this Thursday.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 12:53pm

LimelightMike, you asked if anyone saw it and then you proceed to say these people's opinions are "bashing" the show. Geez. Are you always this annoying?

[defyingravity07]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 1:20pm

Mike's a douche. He starts review threads 2 days before they come out to ensure that he starts the FIRST review thread.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 1:26pm

Have to agree with you DG07!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 1:53pm

I'll be there on Wednesday night.

Any idea why those Orchestra seats are so cheap? Did they seem like obstructed view?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:31pm

I got mezzanine side tickets for 15 bucks. Has anyone sat there?

[Lefou]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:44pm

My friends sat there last night, said they were great seats!! They were in the mid-mezz on the right and they could see everything

[RyToast1]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:47pm

The $15 (regularly $25) orchestra seats are GREAT. They wanted to make all sections accessible to all patrons, hence, cheap ticket.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 2:59pm

I'd love if they kept the inexpensive orchestra seats for all Encores! shows, but I still love me some gallery seats.

I got a $15 orchestra seat for Wednesday's matinee. any other BWWers going?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 6/14/09 at 3:13pm

I'll be there on Thursday... I had no idea it was opening night.