A rousing production of “The Wiz”
D. Jerome Wells shines as the Tin Man and Mariah Lyttle dazzles as Dorothy in the Virginia Repertory Theatre’s production of "The Wiz," through Aug. 4 at the November Theatre.
Photo by Aaron Sutten
I have wanted to see The Wiz — a musical based on L. Frank Baum’s beloved children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz — since I first heard the number “Ease on Down the Road.”
What could be better than the iconic story updated to the 1970s with R&B, soul, pop music and high-energy dancing? Apparently, nothing was better in 1975, the year The Wiz opened on Broadway, as it won the Tony Award for Best Musical as well as six other Tonys.
I finally had the chance to see The Wiz last month at the November Theatre, and I’m sure the Virginia Repertory’s rendition is as good as it gets.
A familiar tale well sung
In a storyline familiar to most, The Wiz
, like its inspiration, centers on four main characters who make their way to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for gifts they desperately covet. In the end, it’s poignantly revealed they possessed those gifts all along.
Dorothy leads the journey to Oz, desperate to return to Kansas, only to discover she could have gone home the moment she put on those sparkly shoes. Mariah Lyttle, making her debut with Virginia Rep, shines in the role of Dorothy while graciously sharing the spotlight with her equally talented co-stars. Lyttle brings emotional depth and rich vocals to the show.
The first friend Dorothy meets — the sweet, innocent and “brainless” Scarecrow — is played by Dylan T. Jackson with charisma to spare. His smile lights up the stage. At times, his demeanor and voice reminded me of Michael Jackson, who played the Scarecrow in the movie production of The Wiz
.
Dorothy and the Scarecrow then come across the Tin Man, who wants a heart. From the moment the audience meets the Tin Man, portrayed by the smooth D. Jerome Wells, it’s clear he is far from empty. He captures the audience with his bluesy “Slide Some Oil to Me” and his heartfelt solo, “What Would I Do If I Could Feel?” And if his charm and voice weren’t enough, the man can also tap.
As the trio eases down the road, they come across the Cowardly Lion, played like a true disco divo by Brandon LaReau. This Lion may not be the most courageous king of the jungle, but he discovers, with help from Dorothy in “Be A Lion,” the importance of being himself.
LaReau’s costume and makeup are impressive, and the actor deftly plays the over-the-top character right up to the edge. Yes, he’s frustratingly self-involved, but he’s still sweet and silly enough that the audience can’t help but root for him.
What would The Wiz be without the wizard? Jerold E. Solomon plays the multifaceted title character with sincerity, sensitivity and humor. All the songs in The Wiz are good, but his “Y’all Got It” is particularly entertaining because of the way Solomon pulls off his high-energy preacher persona.
Strong female characters
The male protagonists in The Wiz
deliver outstanding performances, but the play, like the Judy Garland movie based on Baum’s novel, centers on strong female characters, and the actresses are spot on.
Desiree Roots, who is performing in her third rendition of The Wiz, provides top-notch vocals and displays impressive versatility, successfully selling several characters: the hapless but glamorous Addaperle, the quietly strong Aunt Em, and the deliciously malevolent Evilene who sings “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News.”
Jessi Johnson plays the kind, maternal Glinda with style, delivering incredible emotion and vocal talent in “A Rested Body” and the “Believe in Yourself” reprise.
The musical’s emotionally stirring songs are well balanced by moments of comic relief, several of which come from William Anderson as the Wiz’s gatekeeper. As the messenger to mean witch Evilene, Anthony Cosby, a familiar face on the November Theatre stage, also elicits hearty laughs.
The Wiz’s innovative choreography showcases the cast’s many talents, from the more balletic tornado sequence to upbeat numbers like “Everybody Rejoice.”
In the ensemble show-stoppers, I wished I could see the performance multiple times just to capture everything happening on stage. During songs like “Born on the Day Before Yesterday,” for instance, I didn’t want to miss a moment of the talented Jackson, but it was also fascinating to watch the dancers perform as crows. Who knew crows could be so interesting?
With impressive performances and spot-on costuming and makeup, The Wiz transported the audience to a fantasy world I was delighted to inhabit.
The Wiz is on stage through August 4 at the November Theatre’s Marjorie Arenstein Stage, 114 W. Broad, Richmond. The theatre has a loop hearing system and a reserved seating area for wheelchair users.
Tickets range from $36 to $63, and can be obtained online at va-rep.org or by calling (804) 282-2620.
