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(ear) (ear)
Easing On
Down . . . The Wiz Birmingham
Repertory Theatre Company The New
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham **** BIRMINGHAM
Rep is on something of a journey at the moment - an ‘off site’ journey,
as they describe it. While
their
home is being
extensively refurbished for a re-opening in 2013, the company is
taking it’s output ‘on the road’ to a variety of alternative city
venues. The Alex theatre plays host to this particular offering - a
smart choice of venue for a crowd pleasing musical - a genre this
theatre is well used to taking on. Inspired by the stories of the
Brothers Grim, writer, Frank Baum published
his tale ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ way back in 1900. Various incarnations, spin
offs and interpretations have appeared both on stage and on film ever
since. Indeed, the public’s appetite for the story seems as strong as
ever with ‘ The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Wicked’ currently playing to packed
houses in the West End. The Wiz opened on Broadway
back in 1975 and became something of a cult hit in America. A film
followed in 1978, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, to mixed
response. The show continued to do well
for a number of years before it’s popularity, as is the cyclical nature
of shows, started to wane. Josette Bushell-Mingo’s revival brings the
story bang up date - re-locating Dorothy from Kansas to Birmingham.
A nice touch which genuinely makes the connection with the audience
stronger and more personal.
This being 2011, there is also
a wealth of special effects and jiggery pokery to play with - something
the Designers have used to good effect. Creepy projections, cranked up
sound levels, echoing vocals and splitting sets all add to the dream
like atmosphere and contrast well to the hum drum suburban setting of
Dorothy’s terraced house in her beloved Brum. Treyc Cohen stars as the
fiesty Dorothy, a ‘modern’ girl well capable of holding her own amidst
an array of new and often scary experiences. A Shrinking Violet, she ain’t!
Miss Cohen is the latest in a growing line of TV talent show finalists (in this case, The X factor) who get farmed out into musical theatre.
Clearly, this makes for good box office and for happy producers but
there is a problem here. Whilst there is no doubting
Miss Cohen’s singing ability, the role she is playing is absolutely
pivotal and requires a skilled and broad range of acting skills that she
simply does not yet have. All the more frustrating when
there are a host of superb trained singer/actors out there who don’t get
a look in simply because they have not been on ‘telly’. Whilst Miss Cohen makes a
decent fist of her first musical theatre role, it could, and should, be
so much better.
On a more positive note, the
support roles are often outstanding. Clive Rowe is majestic as The Lion
- a creature whose courage and self esteem have left him. Rowe’s comedy
timing is impeccable and his presence lifts every scene he is in. Horace Oliver delights as the
heart-deficient, Tin Man whilst Wayne Robinson delivers a cool
Scarecrow - without a brain maybe, but with street cred to die for. Strong performances too from
Allyson Ava-Brown (Glinda/Evilene),
Melanie la Barrie (Addaperle/Aunt Em) and
Peter Straker as The Wiz. Mention should be also be made
of the Community Ensemble. Director, Josette Bushell-Mingo believes
firmly in casting members of the local community and does so with
impressive effect here. The community cast form an integral part of the
show, bringing real energy and genuine enthusiasm to scenes. The music, as one would
expect, is the beating heart of this show. Stand out numbers included ‘
Ease On The Road’, ‘No Bad News’ ‘ Believe In Yourself’ and ‘ Home’. If you are a fan of the
original, you won’t be disappointed. It may be a different take, but the
story and it’s themes remain unchanged. Whether it’s set in Leeds,
Birmingham. Kansas or Timbuktu - it’s message is universal and touches a
part of all of us. The Wiz is a co-production
between The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and The West Yorkshire
Playhouse. It runs until 18-06-11 Tom
Roberts
Tamworth's Treyc Cohen
has returned to the Midlands as a star in this heart-warming soul
musical which is an iconic African-American re-telling of the famous
Wizard of Oz tale. The young lady who made such
an impact in reaching the X-Factor finals on TV may not be the complete
actress yet, but her fine voice carries her through this show with some
style. Treyc is excellent as Dorothy,
torn from her home in Birmingham - yes, Birmingham - by a tornado and
plunged into an amazing adventure in which she meets witches, Munchkins
and pals up with a Scarecrow, Tinman and the timid Lion en route to a
confrontation with the terrifying Wiz of Oz. Naturally her Midland accent
is suited to the Brummie link with the plot, but its her singing voice
that people go to hear, and she doesn't disappoint, especially in the
show-stopper, Home. This is the Birmingham Rep's
first visit to the New Alex during the company's two-year exile from
their own theatre during major building work to create the ultra-modern
new theatre/library, and it's an ideal show for the occasion. Charlie Smalls' music and
lyrics are superb and the cast - including professional actors and a
supporting chorus of volunteers drawn from the most talented singers,
dancers and actors in the region - deliver the goods on the yellow brick
road. Wonderful performances from
Wayne Robinson (The Scarecrow), Horace Oliver (The Tinman) and Clive
Rowe (The Lion), while Melanie La Barrie sparkles as Addaperle, the
scooter-riding Good Witch of the North, and Allyson Ava-Brown excels in
the role of Evilene, the Wicked Witch of the West. Peter Straker is an
impressive Wiz who eventually leaves the scene in a balloon. Directed by Josette Bushell-Mingo
with George Dyer's musical direction and Paul J. Medford's choreography,
this loveable musical runs to18.06.11 Paul Marston
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