THE WIZ Reviews

I am curious how these reviews will be.

Everyone will hate it, but Murray will praise Ashanti for her superb acting chops.

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Updated On: 6/18/09 at 04:59 PM

I saw the show last night and I have to say that it's not as bad as everybody is making it out to be.

The main problem with the show is the fact that all the good characters, and in this productions case the best actors, are way under utilized. They have so many characters that nobody has more than 3 or 4 songs, when so much could've been combined. Addaperle, although Dawn Lewis is amazing, really doesn't need to be in the show, her scenes and songs should've just went to Glinda. Eviline doesn't come into the show until the second act and she should've been there sooner. Anyway, these are things we can't change as the show was already made 30 years ago.

So let me focus on the actual production:

The Good:
Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle, Lewis takes a tiny insignificant role and really makes it special and makes it her own. She is charming, sweet, funny, and friendly and her voice sounds great.

The tornadoed house wreckage used for the orchestra on stage, it's just really cool looking.

LaChanze as Glinda- It's LaChanze and she always sounds amazing, but as Aunt Em she didn't do enough, but as Glinda she really showed off why she has a Tony Award, and she truly shined.

Tichina Arnold as Eviline- I know a couple people have been harsh with Tichina in this role but I don't see it at all. She is hysterical, intimidating, has flawless comedic timing, and her voice has killer strength and gospel vibes. I thought she was completely amazing.

The dancers- I loved the way the dancers were used as props and to interpret things in the story, such as the tornado. The choreography was awesome, and it was nice to see the ensemble used for more than just back up dancers.

The Lion- he really didn't stand out as anything special for most of the time but when he sang Be A Lion his voice just soared through the theater and the acting lived up to the singing. The actor finally became a lion himself in that number.

THE BAD:

Ashanti- I hate to be mean, but she wasn't good enough by a long shot. First off the singing wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but she sounded very whiney and nasally the entire time. It actually sounded like she was doing a baby voice in every song.
The biggest fault of Ashanti's was her acting. It was terrible, their were no emotions, no motivations, just WOODEN blocking and moving across the stage. She was so bad I actually feel sorry for her. She delivered everyline like a punk brat, and Dorothy should never be played that way, it was shameful.

Orlando Jones- MEDIOCRE, just mediocre.

The Scarecrow- He was a great singer, great dancer, and his acting was good, but the reason why he makes it on the bad list is because he walked with his hands and feet pointing inward and it looked like he was mocking retarded or crippled people, it just didn't look right and it was ver distracting the whole time.


If this show gets an actual run on Broadway they need to bring in Tamyra or Anika to be Dorothy because she's supposed to be the star of the show and instead she was the dud. They need an actress that can lead such a agood cast and hold this show together.

Overall, I enjoyed myself but wouldn't want to pay full price to see it.

This looks positive

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h3wwnKLxGaLYOjSThUnO-9d8AzFA

Sorry, minor thread steal. Usher did Chicago?

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Here's a better link of the associated press review

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-3/1245361889198480.xml&storylist=entertainment


"With wide-eyed charm and a can't-miss voice, Ashanti makes the role her own while distinguishing herself among a skilled troupe of singers and dancers.
This lavish, well-balanced production revives the soulful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic children's story, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

"One can only hope this "Encores! Summer Stars" production of "The Wiz," which is on display through July 5, has farther to go before it comes to the end of its yellow brick road."

Updated On: 6/18/09 at 06:48 PM

And....Murray.... liked it?

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/ob/06_18_09.html

"No, "perfect” and this show - and, to some extent, this production - are not concepts that fit together easily. But by the standards of this new series, put on by the folks behind the Encores! concert stagings of older musicals, The Wiz is tops. It displays and delivers an energy, a completeness, and a commitment that neither of the previous Summer Stars outings, Gypsy in 2007 and Damn Yankees in 2008, showed. "

I think the reviews are going to be more positive than the word of mouth on here.

Updated On: 6/18/09 at 07:54 PM

I actually enjoyed this production a lot. The choreography was AMAZING, the staging passed my expectations (which granted, weren't very high), the talent on that stage was unbelievable, and the music and costumes are just plain awesome. Ashanti impressed me SO much vocally. Ofcourse, her acting was virtually nonexistent. Orlando Jones....meh.

Overall, it was a really fun show. Beautiful in terms of choreography.

Variety
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940512.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

That Variety review...ouch. Nice shout out to Anika, though.

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Yikes.

So no transfer.... lol

I saw the original production of THE WIZ and felt it was all energy and no substance.

I have no plans to see this version.

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