Posted on 11/30/2015 9:29:17 PM PST by TBP
It’s that time again. On Thursday, December 3, NBC will be presenting The Wiz Live (8 PM Eastern). The Wiz is a product of that period in the 1970s when Broadway was producing “all-black†versions of everything. It is an urban, African-American version of The Wizard of Oz. The show gave us the popular song “Ease On Down the Roadâ€.
In a nice casting touch, Stephanie Mills, who originated the role of Dorothy in the 1975 Broadway cast, will be playing Auntie Em. The production will also feature Queen Latifah as the first female Wiz.
By now, the plot should be familiar to most readers. When we first encounter Dorothy, she’s wishing to get out of Kansas and see distant places. Auntie Em is telling her that she has everything she needs right where she is. Then a tornado blows through and suddenly Dorothy and her dog Toto find themselves not in Kansas. The house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her and freeing the Munchkins from her power.
Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, shows up. Dorothy just wants to get home, and Addaperle suggests that her best bet is to go see the Wizard. She gives Dorothy the Witch of the East’s shoes and tells her not to take them off because they carry a powerful magic.
As she sets off down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City of Oz, she encounters a Scarecrow who is looking for a brain, a Tin Man who is looking for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who is looking for courage. Eventually, they make their way to the gates of the Emerald City. They are admitted to see the Wiz because Dorothy is wearing the shoes of the Wicked Witch of the East. The Wizard agrees to give them the things they are looking for if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West (named Evilene in this version).
As they approach Evilene’s realm, she sends her Winged Monkeys to kill them. They destroy Scarecrow and Tin Man and they bring Dorothy and the Lion to the castle, where they and Toto are forced to do menial work and Evilene tortures Toto and the Lion in front of Dorothy. Finally, Dorothy throws water at the Wicked Witch and she melts. This frees the Winged Monkeys from the witch’s spell and they restore Scarecrow and Tin Man to their prior states.
They return to the Emerald City, where the Wizard reneges on the promise made. The screen that hides the Wiz is overturned and the Wizard is exposed. The Wiz confesses that he (in this production, she) is just a balloonist from Kansas who drifted to Oz by accident and they made him Wizard. The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and the Lion are given symbols of what they are seeking.
The Wiz takes off for Kansas, but Dorothy misses the balloon. Addaperle appears, suggesting that Dorothy ask Glinda, The good Witch of the South, for help getting home. They are transported to Glinda’s palace. Glinda tells Dorothy that the shoes have always had the power to take her home, but that she had to believe it for it to work. “The magic is in you.†Dorothy bids farewell to her companions, clicks her heels three times, and returns home.
What do we learn from this? Well, for one thing, what you ask for, you get. Dorothy wants to see distant places, and she gets to see Oz. Then she wants to go home, and she winds up back at home in Kansas.
The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion receive symbols that remind them that they had the things they were looking for all along, but didn’t recognize them. They had to be shown that they possessed these qualities. But during their adventure, Scarecrow demonstrates his brains, Tin Man demonstrates his heart, and the Lion demonstrates his courage. All you need and all you’re seeking is already there, waiting to be recognized.
And finally, there is the magic of the shoes. To activate the magic in you, you must believe. But as Dorothy learns, the magic is in you. Will you recognize it? What will you do with that magic? In Dorothy’s case, it takes her home – both physically and in the metaphysical sense of being where you belong, where Divine Order is playing out in your life. And Dorothy recognizes the blessing of home.
And there is no place like home. In every sense of the word.
There's another option. I don't know the details but it's more available in cities across the nation than you may think.
When I went to see the live simulcast of the final Monty Python performance, there was a trailer/ad for all of the programming they offer with that service at that movie theater. Live stage shows (from Broadway and London) appeared to be part of the mix. There are probably schedules of programming. Tickets could run $15-20 for a one time showing. Babysisters not included.
I’ve often wondered why Porgy & Bess,a true American classic,has always been centered around black characters (and rightfully so) while the Wizard of Oz cannot remain what it originally was.
You’re right. I knew it was recorded first by Big Mama Thornton, but didn’t realize who wrote it. Thanks.
She is kind of cut, but I don’t like hip hop, no matter who’s doing it.
I like Annie, especially "Tomorrow" and "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile", but I do not like hte way they flip-flopped the politics of it. Gould, and by extension Daddy Warbucks, loathed FDR.
They also missed the point of why the actor who plays Hook also generally plays Mr. Darling. Instead, they had their Mr. Darling playing Smee. Bad idea.
Kelli O'Hara was good, though -- but in a small part. But then, Kelli is a well-established Broadway star.
Did you know that Porgy and Bess was originally commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera? They didn't do it because at that time there were no blacks in opera.
It's her stage name. Her given name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly. One would think this was flamboyant enough to use as a stage name, but apparently not.
Your conjecture that she did appropriate her first name from Iggy Pop is correct. Here is a bit I found on her name:
"Interestingly, the first part of her name originated from her dog of the same name. Her dog, Iggy, was named after Iggy Pop. She loved her dog very much and went on to explain an incident involving her favorite pet."Ironic, given that one of Iggy's first famous songs was "Now I Want to Be Your Dog".
No it isn't since I won't be watching.
Yet the magic is still in you, as it’s in Dorothy.
I have an acquaintance who every year goes to NYC from the west coast for a week just to see shows. That is on my bucket list.
Sure, some come here but I stil can’t afford them!
When you go, visit TKTS in Duffy Square (47th & Broadway.) The sell day-of-performance tickets about two hours beforehand for roughly half price. Unless you want to see a particular show that is popular, such as The Phantom of the Opera or Wicked, that’s probably your bets bet for Broadway tickets.
And do stop at Sardi’s (44th between Broadway & 8th). It’s the place with all the caricatures of theatre people on the wall. Their cannelloni is the dish for which they’re justifiably famous.
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