Refreshed, renovated ‘The Wiz’ is joyous, uplifting

By Rich Fahey

BOSTON – When turning 50, it’s nice to get a makeover. Especially a makeover that makes you look fresh and new.

The Tony-winning musical “The Wiz” is actually 51, debuting in 1974 before winning seven Tonys in 1975. The all-Black reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 classic children’s novel “The Wizard of Oz” has been freshened up by Amber Ruffin, one of the writers of the Tony-winning musical “Some Like it Hot,” adapting the book written by white librettist William F. Brown. She was tasked with bringing “The Wiz” into today – but just to a point. “It’s not like Dorothy is holding an IPad,” said Ruffin in program notes.

The score by Charlie Smalls that spawned standards such as “Ease on Down the Road” and “Home” has been re-orchestrated and the amazing advances over the last half-century in set design, projections, lighting and sound design are on full display, making the national touring production of “The Wiz” now at the Citizens Bank Opera House a spectacular, colorful delight.

Young Dorothy (Dana Simone) lives on a farm in Kansas with her Aunt Em (Kyla Jade), and she is unhappy, comforted by her loving aunt. Her world is turned upside down when a cyclone – portrayed by a cadre of spectacular dancers – picks up her home, and sends it hurtling to the land of Oz. She makes a big first impression when her house lands on and kills Evamean, the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins who have been freed from her powers are  overjoyed, and Addapearle (Amitra Fanae), The Good Witch of the North, informs Dorothy she is in the Land of Oz.

A distressed Dorothy explains she just wants to get home, and Addapearle tells her best bet is to take the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz aka (“The Wiz”) presides. She also gives Dorothy’s Evamean’s silver shoes, warning her never to take them off until she arrives home, because they have magical powers. Along the way to Ozs, she picks up three fellow travelers – The Scarecrow (Elijah Ahmad Lewis), The Tin Man (D. Jerome) and The Lion (Cal Mitchell), all of whom also want something from The Wiz: brains, a heart and courage, in that order.

The scarecrow has always been the showiest part in Oz’s various incarnations, and Lewis checks off the boxes as a singer, dancer and actor to deliver some of Ruffin’s updated quips. That’s not to say that Jerome and Mitchell are lacking; they just don’t have as much to work with as Lewis does.

 Alan Mingo Jr.’s Wiz is a hoot, strutting, preening, but in the end delivering nothing – all hat and no cattle, as Texans would say. But he and his green team  does put on quite a fine show as he promises his visitors to fulfill their requests – if they will only kill Evillene (Kyla Jade), who holds sway over all the inhabitants of Oz.

Soon on the scene is The Wicked Witch of The West herself, Evillene, gleefully played by Kyla Jade in full scene-stealing mode, who warns her lackeys “Don’t Bring Me No Bad News” and promises revenge on Dorothy for her sister’s death. But Dorothy is resilient, as are her friends.

And of course there is the beautiful Glinda (Shehezarade), the golden-voiced Good Witch of the South, who will play a key role in helping Dorothy return home.

Smalls’ decorated score mixes soul, pop, funk and gospel to maximum effect. He crafts not one, but two show-stoppers in Act II, with Shehezarade  as Glinda’s “Believe in Yourself” and the iconic “Home,” which Simone delivers with eloquence and style.

The colors in Hannah Beacham’s scenic design – she is the Oscar-winning production designer of “Black Panther” — and Daniel Brodie’s video and projection design are simply dazzling, and the costumes by Sharen Davis and innovative hair and wig designs by Charles G. Lapointe breathe new life into the characters.

JaQuel Knight’s choreography is energetic and athletic, leaving no chance the action on stage will ever be static for long.

Director Schele Williams bundles it all together and the result is a joyous, uplifting piece of entertainment, refreshed, renovated and ready to find its way into your heart.

The national touring production of “The Wiz.” Book by William F. Brown, with additional material for this production by Amber Ruffin. Music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls. At The Citizens Bank Opera House through Aug. 24. BroadwayinBoston.com.