It must have been scary enough to try and fill in the sequin-trimmed, shiny red shoes Judy Garland had left behind when she introduced the Wizard of Oz to excited (and often terrified) children in the popular 1938 film.
But imagine trying out this revered role in the musical version of the legendary story of Dorothy and her pals and knowing that pop diva Diana Ross wore the ruby shoes in a silver version. And that the scarecrow was Michael Jackson and the wizard none other than Richard Pryor.
Yeeks! Stage fright justified.
But the cast on The Wiz, a pre-Christmas offer from the Theater Kelowna Society, doesn’t get any of this.
Brian Haigh, led by a veteran director and set designer, notes that the traditional theme remains, but with a much more upbeat and bluesy feel, as The Wiz was actually aimed at a black American audience.
“When it came out (1978) it featured an all black cast and spoke to the essence of the African American experience,” explained Haigh. “It’s funny and contemporary, somehow soulful and MoTown and hip and optimistic.
“It still has a lot of humor, there are social comments, but we have made our own mark. At first, the musical had an all-black cast – but that won’t happen in Kelowna. So we changed the setting and kept the basic story with a few twists. “
The musical will perform at the Kelowna Community Theater beginning November 27th and will perform on December 7th to highlight the artistic talents of 15 performers.
These include Ashley Lewicki (Dorothy) and Konar Sanderson (Scarecrow) as well as Graham Daley (Tinman), George Walker (Lion) and John Van Dyk (The Wiz).
“The baseline is the same, but there are spin-offs,” noted Lewicki. “Like biker chicks and circus clowns. Silver slippers, no red shoes, and there’s a storm but no tornado, ”she said. “It was adapted by Brian, but we still have the characters and the music is great. It’s very upbeat and fun and challenging to sing. “
While in the original version of Hollywood Dorothy is embroiled in a Kansas-style tornado and dumped far away in the emerald city, in the music version she wishes she could escape everyday life by running to the circus.
It happens through some sort of storm, and she teams up with the brain-short scarecrow, the heartless Tinman, and a not-so-scary lion who needs to find some courage.
“I love being the scarecrow, and while the music is challenging, I find it harder to be a floppy scarecrow,” admitted Sanderson. “My good posture has to go out the window. I have to be floppy. It’s a challenge, ”he mused.
“The musical is a great side effect of the Wizard of Oz.
“It’s different, it’s soulful and the music is a lot of fun. The music has a lot of feeling, and we have a chance to play with it, listen to what the all-black cast did, and make it our own. “
As most Wiz fans know, the foursome sets out to seek and hope to find itself. Along the way, yes, there will be flying monkeys, but a lot more solos and duets that will help travelers bond as a former family while also discovering the world around them.
“It speaks to children and adults, it’s a feeling of wonder,” added Haigh. “Everyone wants to find a home, have feelings from the heart, have the courage to believe.
“It’s fun and accessible to everyone. The script is funny, the music – rock, gospel, and soul – is upbeat, the kids will love the color and fun characters, and the adults will get the jokes. “
QUICK FACTS
What: The Wiz, a musical adventure with Dorothy, the Tinman, Lion and Scarecrow. Presented by the Theater Kelowna Society.
Where: Kelowna Community Theater
When: November 27th – December 7th at 7 p.m. with
2:00 p.m. Matinees on selected dates.
Tickets: Available from the Prospera Place box office at 250-762-5050 and
selectyourtickets.com
