 |
 |
The Wiz Reviews
|
|
|
|
|
| What to Expect: |
| Acting: |
 |
| Music: |
 |
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
|
|
|
| Recommended For: |
|
The Entire Family: |
 |
|
Anyone: |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
This Wiz Fails to Wow Review by: OpeningNight, Jun 27, 2009 |
If you are a fan of the original 1975 Broadway production of the Wiz you will be disappointed by its latest incarnation at the City Center in New York.
While there are some strong performances and some inventive choreography the show on the whole is subpar. The orchestra hovers above the center stage on a large tree house type construction, it is impressive to behold but, it eats up a large chunk of the performance space and much of ... read more the movement in the show seems messy because of it.
Paul Tazewell's costume design is bright, vibrant and colorful and definitely captures the whimsy and electricity of Oz. However, the choice to dress the yellow brick road dancers in black was a mistake. They appear like a contingent of mimes that got sucked into Oz from the same Tornado that misplaced Dorothy.
Andy Blakenbuehler's choreography is clever and energetic but, seems a bit cluttered and bunched up on occasion due to the encroachment of the towering orchestra set.
Ashanti as Dorothy is horrendous. Her voice is okay, but, her complete lack of prensence destroys her time on stage. She seems to be completely lost and wanders around zombie-like as if she was just woken up in the middle of the night and told to enter stage left.
The other big minus is Orlando Jones as the Wiz. Jones cannot sing a lick and his ersatz baritone is annoying. Tichina Arnold as Evillene, the wicked witch does a serviceable job, but overacts a bit. I didn't particularly care for LaChanze, she has a big booming voice, but somehow I just didn't enjoy her performance.
Standouts in this show are Dawn Lewis as Addaperle, Joshua Henry as the Tinman and James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion. Henry's Tinman is soulful and extremely likeable. Lewis in a supporting role has some good moments and a natural comic fliar. Iglehart imbues his character with all the comic bravado and touching pathos you would expect and he completely wins the audience over.
The overall pacing of the show is good, it moves along crisply. Alex Lacamoire and the orchestra are excellent, they capture the bouncy, catchy rhythms of the score and deserve praise.
There are no sets to speak of in this production, just a billowy piece of fabric that flutters and stands in for the Emerald City and the Wicked Witch's lair.
In the end though the wavy, fluttery fabric is a metaphor for the overall show, as it takes on the look of a deflated balloon. The air has escaped from this production and it has been weighed down by some unfortunate casting choices. My advice is to pop in the original soundtrack and save yourself the money. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
 |
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
It's Ashameti Review by: DickGee, Jun 20, 2009 |
Sometimes this production sparkles with exhilerating movement, color and a super bright score. And sometimes it just drifts into scenes that were a really bad idea.
The cast is just fine all around with many outstanding performances and bring the house down numbers.
Except Ashanti.
The casting of Ashanti in this role is so tragic that I wonder why the producers allowed her to open this show. OK...I get the message that she is famous,... read more, great voice and can sell tickets. However watching her bored lifeless,close to a valley girl interperation of a much beloved character was just downright unfair to the cast and all the many authentically talented people involved in the production.
I would love to see this show again with a different Dorothy. I have a feeling that the show is actually good. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
The Entire Family
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
Tichina, Stole The Show Review by: Broadway Lover, Jun 18, 2009 |
This version of the Wizard of Oz, beats Wicked hands down.
With an all star cast performance, I am hoping to see this on Broadway soon. Tichina, stole the show with her performance of(Don't bring me no bad news). |
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
The Entire Family
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
Fix It Review by: theatregeek, Jun 15, 2009 |
| I love this show having seen it several times. This version needs work if it has aspirations beyond the City Center. The sound front and center was horrible. There was no sound coming from the small stage speakers along the front of the stage which is necessary to hear the lead's vocals. Only LaChanze who is sensational, and James Monroe Iglehart were able to sing loud enough to overcome this problem. I spoke to another patron who ... read more attended on a different night who had the same problem. Ashanti's vocals were thin and her acting was OK at best. Same goes for Orlando Jones as THE WIZ. The production's dance elements are ambitious but needed more work to be anywhere near Holder's original level. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
|
| Acting: |
 |
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Anyone
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
Review by: , Jun 14, 2009 |
| Overall the show was great. Ashanti is not the best singer in the world but she held her own, the melodies were well orchestrated to suit her voice. Her acting could have been better, but she could not run around like Stephanie did and still sing. Oh well... The lion, tinman, scarecrow had great voices. Tichina & Dawn are trained actresses and singers their roles were top notch. LaChanze blew them all out of the window with her singing.... read more. While the story music remained the same, odern day storylin, the dancing and singing by the chorus was excellent |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Family
|
Recommended for:
Anyone
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
|
