Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – THE WIZ returns to Broadway in a breezy revival flush with joyous performances and an extra dose of Afrofuturism

• By drediman
• April 18, 2024
• No Comments

Last night, the Broadway revival of The Wiz opened at the Marquis Theatre. The production arrives on the Great White Way after having enjoyed a number of months on the road (the production is expected to proceed back on tour after completing its spring/summer stint on Broadway). For those of you unfamiliar with the musical, The Wiz — which originally opened in New York in 1975, ultimately garnering the coveted Tony Award for Best Musical that season — is an all-Black retelling of L. Frank Baum’s popular children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, or perhaps more directly, the classic 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz.

Although hardly a masterpiece — there’s a shortage of compelling character development and dramatic tension amidst all the pageantry — it’s hard not to have a good time at The Wiz, and the current revival is certainly no different. First off, the soul-fueled score by Charlie Smalls (and others) is immensely likeable, featuring such recognizable hit songs as “Ease on Down the Road”, “Home”, and “A Brand New Day”. Aided by Amber Ruffin’s smartly updated book, director Schele Williams (who is also represented on Broadway this season by the musical adaptation of The Notebook) also leans in on the work’s overarching sense of exuberance, which gives her projection-heavy, dynamically-choreographed production infectious pop and forward momentum. And as an unabashed love letter to Black culture — Williams distinguishes her breezy production by injecting the musical with an extra dose of seductive Afrofuturism — it’s hard not to be taken by the beauty and majesty of the overall landscape.

In summary, the performances across the board are a joy, and the cast sings the heck out of the score. In the central role of Dorothy, Nichelle Lewis makes a fabulous Broadway debut, grounding the production with a heartfelt performance that’s at once sweet, earnest, and strong. As her iconic traveling companions, Avery Wilson (Scarecrow), Philip Johnson Richardson (a surprisingly moving Tin Man), and Kyle Ramar Freeman (Lion) deliver deftly delineated performances. Other standouts in the accomplished cast include Wayne Brady (suave in the title role), Deborah Cox (a regal, silver-voiced Glinda), Melody A. Betts (both a gleefully evil Evillene, as well as a sturdy Aunt Em).

RECOMMENDED

THE WIZ
Broadway, Musical
Marquis Theatre
2 hours, 20 minutes (with one intermission)
Through August 18