PHOTO: Emerald city set during the ensemble's performance of "Emerald City Dance." Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS. — Emerald city set during the ensemble's performance of "Emerald City Dance." Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS.

REVIEW: TUTS revists ‘The Wiz’ 18 years later as part of 50th anniversary celebration

By Alyssa Shotwell, Online Editor On Nov 7, 2018 793 0

PHOTO: After Scarecrow and the Ensemble perform "Born on the Day Before Yesterday," Dorthy joins them for "Ease on Down the Road." Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS. — After Scarecrow and the Ensemble perform “Born on the Day Before Yesterday,” Dorothy joins them for “Ease on Down the Road.” Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS.

From Oct. 23 – Nov. 4, Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) dazzled audiences with “The Wiz.” In 1975, “The Wiz” changed Broadway as it was one of the first major musicals to feature an all-black cast and, in 2018, the production was the second show in the 50th anniversary season of TUTS.

Originally titled “The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz,’” “The Wiz” is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s famous children’s book series “The Wizard of Oz.” This story has been adapted into dozens of mediums like silent films, anime, comics, video games and even non-musical films and plays. Of all the of musical adaptations, the most recognized are the films “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and the “The Wiz” (1978.)

Stellar stars and costumes

The performances of all main cast members were enchanting, however, The Wiz (played by Marva Hicks) and Tinman (played by Paris Nix) were something special.

Hicks’ performance of “Believe in Yourself” had many in the audience cheering her on even before she reached the climax of the song. Nix’s song “Slide Some Oil To Me” featured a variety of dance moves as he became more animated. Best of which was a tapdance and a call back to Michael Jackson, who played Scarecrow in the 1978 film, with a moonwalk.

PHOTO: "The Emerald City Dance" was one of the most memorable scenes from the entire production even though it featured little to no story elements. The ensemble's clothes reflect the high society that is Emerald City. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS. — “The Emerald City Dance” was one of the most memorable scenes from the entire production even though it featured little to no story elements. The ensemble’s clothes reflect the high society that is Emerald City. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS.

The chorus/ensemble stole the performance in nearly every scene they were in.

With complex and consistent choreography from the chorus in a production like “The Wiz,” the singing is prone to immense strain. Every time “Ease on Down The Road” was played as the main transition for most scenes, the chorus, dancing and singing in gold tailcoats and gold top hats, were the literal representation of the yellow brick road.

TUTS did a great job of addressing this issue by having six members of the chorus up in the special balcony boxes support the sound. Even though they were isolated from the cast during most of the production, they still felt physically part of it with the costume changes and emotive gestures during intense scenes.

The extravagant costumes, hair and makeup were absolutely stunning. When there was one or two less than stellar costumes, like The Wiz’s, it stuck out due to it coming after the high expectations of previous character entrances.

Trying to sympathize with Dorothy

As beautiful as the costumes and chorus were, this adaptation failed to give us a likable Dorothy, played by Simone Smith. This was not a casting shortfall, as Smith gave an excellent performance despite many things working against her. Dorothy, who is supposed to be the main character of the story, was not given a proper introduction and Smith seemed to be conserving her best voice until the very end in her awe-inspiring performance of “Home.” The conserving may have been because she was on stage nearly the whole show and didn’t want to fully push out her voice until near the end.

PHOTO: Dorothy, Salome Smith, meeting Addaperle, Cimone Gundy after she lands in Oz. Addaperle is the Good Witch of the South and Glinda's less powerful, but much funnier sister. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS. — Dorothy, Salome Smith, meeting Addaperle, Simone Gundy after she lands in Oz. Addaperle is the good Witch of the South and Glinda’s less powerful, but much funnier sister. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS.

Dorothy is already not the most likable protagonist of fan favorite musicals, but she works in versions that develop her motivations for wanting to leave home. TUTS’ 2018 retelling left the audience guessing based off a short dialogue between her and Aunt Em (played by Yvette Monique Clark.)

In adaptions of the novel closer to “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is from Kansas, interacts with many characters on how she feels trapped in a small town and that her fate is out of her hands. In the 1978 film “The Wiz,” Dorothy is an introvert, mid-twenties kindergarten teacher in Harlem wishing for the courage to live on her own and take a job teaching high school. This production left us with no reason to sympathize with her.

Unique changes that wow’d the audience

Not all deviations were a flop. For one, casting women to play the Cowardly Lion(ess) and The Wiz(ness) made for a fresh take on the characters. Just like Queen Latifah’s performance as The Wiz in NBC’s 2015 production “The Wiz Live!” (2015), Hicks’ was able to be a more maternal figure to Dorothy.

For a musical filled with soul and breath-taking choreography, the simple set may have surprised some. It consisted mostly of a jagged white conical shape center stage. However, as the story continued, the flexibility of projecting the scenery to the sharp corners of the coned backdrop quickly turned into a strength. It reached it’s sparkling peak as emeralds appear to be growing on it.

While the production of “The Wiz” lacked in areas, going to a TUTS show is an experience everyone should have. As part of the anniversary commemoration, TUTS has props and promotional material from productions of the past 50 years like “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde” sitting in the lobby outside of the orchestra level. Upcoming shows in this season include Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mama Mia!” and “Ragtime.”

PHOTO: Originally debuting on Broadway in 1975, "The Wiz" was one of the first large-scale musicals with an all African-American cast. This scene features the Lion, Tinman, Scarecrow and Dorthy. Left to Right: Allyson Kaye Daniel, Paris Nix, Christopher Campbell and Salome Smith. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS. — Originally debuting on Broadway in 1975, “The Wiz” was one of the first large-scale musicals with an all African-American cast. This scene features the Lion, Tinman, Scarecrow and Dorothy. Left to Right: Allyson Kaye Daniel, Paris Nix, Christopher Campbell and Salome Smith. Photo courtesy of Melissa Taylor and TUTS.