The Wiz returning to Bway in 2023 after National Tour — Page 11

CATSNYrevival said: "I didn’t hate Glinda singing “He’s the Wiz” but it seemed half baked. We know who Glinda is through other media but she kind of just walked out, sang the song and left. She should have more dialogue in the scene to establish her character. Even by the end of the show with her additional scene in act two Glinda was the most under developed character."

 

Unfortunately, that's the script structure to blame; in the original script, we hear about Glinda early on but don't meet her until the very end of the show. That works...okay in the book, There's a reason the film Wizard of Oz  combined the two Good Witches into one character. 

Not to armchair quarterback, but if I were adapting the Wiz for modern stage, I'd structure it so Aunt Em and all three Witches are doubled by the same actress. That creates a real star part, and would refocus the show to center around Dorothy's (more complicated) relationship with her Aunt and her home. The lyrics of "the feeling we once had" lend themselves really well to an interpretation of some love but real tension between Aunt Em and Dorothy, which I think is a very interesting place to start the show. I think if Dorothy is legitimately tempted to stay in Oz at the end of the show, if she's making this journey not even sure if what she wants is to get back to Kansas, go back to the home she had before her parents died,  or find some other kind of home...that would be a MUCH stronger story.

I mean...Amber Ruffin didn't do that, and the show works fine. Melody Betts is WONDERFUL as both Aunt Em and Eveline, but the show does not double those characters with any particular intention, and that always bugs me.

Saw this yesterday in SF.

 

I went in completely cold, I know Wizard of Oz and have seen Wicked many a times, but the Wiz never entered my sphere. And I guess I am also not the target audience for this show, and that's perfectly fine. 

Wayne Brady was out last night, but I don't think he would've made a huge difference for me. 

What others shared around the scenery is pretty true. It's cheap and bland. The backgrounds can be very distracting, especially in the 2nd act when we have a factory setting in the back with moving cogs. 

This show is singing forward, and everyone was pretty spot on. I do think that the riff and optional note fest that's going on here is a little much, but it's done well at least. 

Costumes are not great, except for the Tin-man, Lion, and Scarecrow. I was too far in the back to see any notable make-up. 

I felt like the second act dragged a lot. All that's really left in the story is to meet the Wiz, get the quest to kill the Wicked Witch, get the prize and go home, but oh boy do we take a long time to get there. The opening dance number of the second act is not bad per se, but it just seems so random, as it doesn't drive the plot forward whatsoever, and it takes forever.

I enjoyed the leanings into a 70s aesthetic, but I think they could've gone a bit further there. The poppy-field scene is just weird and out of place, and it all starts with that terrible transition on that back wall. Usually they hide transitions with moving pieces in front of that wall, but here it's just bad. 

 

I hope they spruce this up a bit before it hits NYC. The set and costumes could use some massive re-haul. Acting and singing is fine. 

 

But yeah, not my show, and that's perfectly fine. :)

They are apparently raising another 2 million dollars to enhance the production elements for Broadway

I don't know that comparing the stage show to the film is a good thing.  It has developed a cult following over the years, but for people just coming to it, they may not realize what a colossal failure the film was considered when it was first released.  People hated the changes that had been made for the film from the original stage version.  I had never seen the stage version when I first saw the film, but even as a child on first viewing it I was confused and found it a mess - and I grew up on messy movie musicals!  Only as an adult coming back to it, especially on viewing the remastered blu-ray which cleaned up a very muddy transfer that got shown on TV in the 80's, did I appreciate aspects of it more.  But Sidney Lumet was still definitely the worst choice for director.

inception said: "I don't know that comparing the stage show to the film is a good thing. It has developed a cult following over the years, but for people just coming to it, they may not realize what a colossal failure the film was considered when it was first released. People hated the changes that had been made for the film from the original stage version. I had never seen the stage version when I first saw the film, but even as a child on first viewing it I was confused and found it a mess - and I grew up on messy movie musicals! Only as an adult coming back to it, especially on viewing the remastered blu-ray which cleaned up a very muddy transfer that got shown on TV in the 80's, did I appreciate aspects of it more. But Sidney Lumet was still definitely the worst choice for director."

Well yeah, I am not saying that I would've preferred a replica of the movie (but I am pointing out that one scene in this revival is heavily influenced by the movie), but I am saying that I think they could've taken this further art direction wise (like the movie did - of all things that are not great, I think it at least offered a very different interpretation of OZ). 

Theatermania's review of the show in LA: 

The Wiz Tour Has Great Vocals, But Stumbles on the Road to Broadway

https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-the-wiz-tour-has-great-vocals-but-stumbles-on-the-road-to-broadway_1730676/

Updated On: 2/17/24 at 11:02 PM

I'm really afraid reading some of these reviews.

I saw the show's first tour in Detroit and loved it. I had been an Oz fanatic as a kid and I remember really appreciating that the adaptation stayed closer to L Frank Baum's source material than even the MGM film.  There was even less psychology to the characters than even the film gave. It was basically a black version of the children's book. Very funny, not very nuanced but what a score. It was basically a pageant and we loved it.  It was very theatrical.  As Dorothy (it was a very young Lilias White) clicks her heels together and begins "Home" Oz slowly disappeared behind her until she is alone onstage, no scenery until she hit that last note and Toto (who does not go with her to Oz in this version) runs on stage to indicate she is back in Kansas. So simple and your body explodes into gooseflesh. That was theatre. 

 

Saw it last night, and there was an overture. 

I completely agree that Tony Walton's production design for the film was something unique and special, despite all the problems in the movie. The original production also had a cohesive look and point of view, completely different to the movie. Every visual element we've seen from this (and every report I've heard from friends who have seen the whole thing) makes me so dispirited that I'm not sure I'm gonna bother seeing a show that I've waited my whole life to see on Broadway. The costumes and projections look so tacky and generic that it's hard to trust that there's a creative voice at the center of this that knows what it's doing. 

Considering Schele has other shows, this has already recouped its tour $$$, and it’s already been on the road — I’d be surprised if we’d see any major changes between now and Broadway

BroadwayBaby6 said: "I saw the show yesterday in Los Angeles. It is a mess:

The sets (which will probably get revamped for Broadway) are chintzy. The show relies too heavily on projections.

The book problems aren't solved. The show is too long and is badly paced.

Everybody is camping it up and screaming like they're on American Idol.

The direction is embarrassingly amateurish.

Dorothy acting is wooden whilethe rest of the cast who can act are directed to camp it up.

There is no magic or wonder in the land of Oz. The choreography is unimpressive and is not organic to the show.

There is no character development, no stakes and no urgency.'

Deborah Cox has less than 10 lines but singstwo songs.

The show needs a new director, a new set designer, a new book writer and a new choreographer.

I heard that they're spending $2 million to revamp the show for Broadway but a strong experienced Broadway director is badly needed for this show. If I were a producer on this show, I'dcall as seasoned Broadway director in to fix this mess before it heads to Broadway.

"

 

I agree with everything you said. Saw it last week and IMO underwhelming is an understatement. I was waiting to be dazzled but it only came when Ms Cox hit the stage. She was fabulous! 

 

Owen22 said: "I'm really afraid reading some of these reviews.

I saw the show's first tour in Detroit and loved it. I had been an Oz fanatic as a kid and I remember really appreciating that the adaptation stayed closer to L Frank Baum's source material than even the MGM film. There was even less psychology to the characters than even the film gave. It was basically a black version of the children's book. Very funny, not very nuanced but what a score. It was basically a pageant and we loved it. It was very theatrical. As Dorothy (it was a very young Lilias White) clicks her heels together and begins "Home" Oz slowly disappeared behind her until she is alone onstage, no scenery until she hit that last note and Toto (who does not go with her to Oz in this version) runs on stage to indicate she is back in Kansas. So simple and your body explodes into gooseflesh. That was theatre.
"

Sounds so magical. I wish I had seen the original, like you.