“The Wiz” Reviews — Critics Review Ashanti’s “The Wiz”
Theater critics in New York City are easing on down the road for Grammy-winning singing star Ashanti’s revival of the Broadway musical, The Wiz. Featuring lively costumes and an outstanding score that helped make a star out R&B diva Stephanie Mills, was the most successful Black Broadway productions of the 1970s.
The show’s popularity even resulted in a film, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
Variety has compiled a list of reviews for the urban reworking of L. Frank Baum’s classic fairy tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, starring Ashanti as Dorothy and Orlando Jones as the man himself.
Check out what they the experts are saying about the show:
• “A fantasy bereft of magic” was how Variety‘s David Rooney described the musical. “There’s not enough imagination on tap here to make this ‘Good Times’-era artifact anything but a gaudy kids’ pantomime with quaint, jive-flavored sitcom dialogue.”
• The New York Times’ Charles Isherwood mostly slammed the show, calling it “busily energetic yet full of dead ends” and dismissing Ashanti as “a pretty place-holder, an empty vessel in a sparkly dress.” He added: “ ‘The Wiz’ in the current incarnation seems to be forever aerobically on the move and yet always at a complete standstill.”
• “The score constantly lifts up the show,” stated Elisabeth Vincentelli of the New York Post. “Which is good, because this ‘Wiz’ needs major support.”
• While noting standout performances by LaChanze and Tichina Arnold, Reuters’ Frank Scheck deemed the tuner unfit for Broadway, concluding, “This ‘Wiz’ doesn’t exactly make you want to click your heels.”
• Newsday’s Linda Winer gave the show a mixed review, commending helmer Kail’s “invention and affection” toward Brown’s original book but acknowledging that the production’s Dorothy underwhelms: “Ashanti proves not be a natural theater actor, and, even more surprising, her silvery voice sounds thin and bland against the pros.”
• Joe Dziemianowicz in the Daily News declared James Monroe Iglehart’s Lion “the evening’s standout,” suggesting that Kail’s lack of “concept or style to integrate the show into a cohesive story” was the musical’s biggest problem.
• In a mostly positive review, Bloomberg’s John Simon called it “truly a show for all ages and all imaginable audiences.” However, he echoed the general consensus on lackluster perfs from the leads.
• The AP’s Peter Santilli gave one of the few unequivocally positive reviews, calling the musical a “lavish, well-balanced production” and thoroughly praising Ashanti’s performance: “With wide-eyed charm and a can’t-miss voice, Ashanti makes the role her own while distinguishing herself among a skilled troupe of singers and dancers.”
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On July 2nd 2009, meeka wrote:
Okay so on Monday I attended the performance of the Wiz and boy do I have a whole lot to say. For starters, I am actually glad that I was in the poor man’s seats because truthfully it was not worth sitting way up in the front. Ashanti definitely was not worth anything more that $5. I am inclined to agree with my sister when she said the production company was on a budget and couldn’t afford anyone else. Seriously, they could have done a whole lot better with casting and general but Ashanti…they were better off getting a no name and running with that as my play buddy said. Shame on her for trying sing “Home”. The only thing that I wanted to do was go home. She was completely flat and it was obvious that after what 2-3 albums she still can’t sing. With the exception of Aunt Em/Glinda, Addaperle, Evilene, Lion and the back-up singers (yes I said back-up singers, they right alongside the stars on stage dancing and acting) no one could really sing. Granted there were some comical parts that made all laugh including me but the bad reviews that this production received were highly deserved.
Like I said, Lion had a wonderful voice and he sung well. Other than that he was extremely ghetto. Aside from being extra loud, overly obnoxious he remindef me of the guys who stand at the corner shouting anything a girl to get her attention. he kept referring to Dorothy as lil mama. How trite is that. The Wizard sent me into would be convulsion when for brains he gave scarecrow a GED. Now seriously he could have done better.
If you are looking for the experience that you received whether you saw it on Broadway with Stephanie Mills or in the movie with Diana Ross it’s not gonna happen. My best suggestion go rent the video, it’s cheaper and you will be entertained. To think that this was the best production ever is the worst thing ever. Granted, it is appropriate to modernize something but seriously it is in bad taste to modernize it so much that the it becomes a big mess.
However, hey that is small stuff and not even the point of today’s piece. Today’s piece is all about acting out in public. Okay so granted I totally get that some folks have never been out before and this was their first visit to a theater (besides the Apollo) but call me cruel there is no exceptions. First order of business, the show starts at 7pm. This does not mean that you come in at 7:45 making enough noise to start a party. Home girl actually came in and was walking back and forth in the row because she couldn’t find her seat. Sweetheart the ticket was only $20 meaning that none of the seats was that great. Sit down anywhere and shut up. Second, while I am totally in love with my blackberry I too let it go or at least try to be discreet. Seriously why do you have your phone out so that the usher standing way on the other side can see the light and then have to come over and tell you to turn it off. Can I say embarrassing? Third, as I said before, I understand that some folks have not been out before but damn they gave the rules at the start of the show. NO CAMERAS!!! Not once but twice did I see a flash go off. I thought the girl sitting behind me was going to lean her head on my shoulder. That’s how close she was to me. Isn’t this America, the home of personal space? People were having full-length loud conversations. I guess they talk at the movies too. Finally yet importantly, call me stuck-up, but I was brought up to attend the theatre in style. Now you don’t need a ball gown let alone church wear but unless you have, bad feet leave the tattered sneakers at home. It would also help if you take the hat off and put on a pair of slacks. Looking like you are about to go to the club or for that matter the club is just so tasteless.
Anywayz, as you can see it was definitely an experience. That’s all for now…stay tuned for more!!!