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#blackDREAMSmatter: The Wiz Wins! (SBK Review)

K. Abel
Dec 4, 2015
3 min read

As I promised Studio By Kelly's Arts Lovers community on Facebook, I will respectfully eat crow and recant my initial, negative reaction when first hearing about The Wiz Live production.

I LOVED IT, Arts Lovers! (braises crow, serves it with mango chutney, eats it happily).

Where should I begin? There's so much to say!

The costumes were excellent and the ensemble cast included a stellar group of professional, theatrical talents. I was pleasantly surprised by Mary J. Blige's ability to invoke the spirit of Evilene while maintaining her Yonkers girl personality that we've come to know and love so well. Elijah Kelley made a fantastic Scarecrow, which is no easy task considering the gigantic shoes he was given to fill. Kelley is a triple threat; offering the stage platinum singing, dancing and acting like that of a seasoned performer. David Allen Grier effortlessly transitioned into Lion and showed the world that he can not only hold a tune, but he can roar for Broadway! Ne-Yo was also another wonderful surprise. Although he seemed a little out of place in a musical stage production, he proved, that if cultivated, his talents can take him far if he chooses to pursue a Broadway career.

Overall, performing on live television in front of 11 million viewers (half of which were scrutinizing EVERY detail and holding lofty standards every step of the way), I commend the entire cast for rising to the occasion. Absolutely outstanding work, artists!

As a parent and a provider of wholesome entertainment for children (See Jupiter Strong), I was extremely apprehensive about what message last night's production of the Wiz would offer to it's audience. In a day and age when the entertainment marketed towards our youth is saturated with sexually-charged imagery, violence and lacks the depth necessary to inspire critical thinking, I shuddered at the thought of exposing my eight year old to a sexed up, shoot-em up version of a Family classic. Instead, I was able to unclench my teeth, exhale and smile at this very fresh take on a beloved entertainment jewel that my entire family enjoyed immensely.

Another beautiful nuance of last night's performance so elegantly captured was supporting The Wiz's legacy of Black Beauty. From the Poppy Flowers to the Crows, our gorgeous, radiant hues were lovingly represented in every scene. The adorable Shanice Williams as Dorothy shattered a stereotype. With her bouncy curls, modestly robust figure and sweet voice, she exemplified the irresistable sweetness and the dreamy, loveable spirit that inspired the popular #BlackGirlMagic hashtag. Even the “witches”, Miss One, Eviliene and Glinda dazzled the stage with grace and authentic loveliness found in the presence of matriarchs throughout the Black community. The moment Uzo Adoba cascaded onto the stage, her powerful, full figure and divine cocoa skin wrapped in gold and smiling broadly, my eyes began to tear up. When Dorothy exclaimed, “She's BEAUTIFUL!”, I knew we hit a major turn in the way our collective chooses to recognize our beauty and I applauded. What a wonderful thing to be a young Black child and see so much, edifying imagery last night; presented on the landscape of a magical, fairytale and unapologetically so.

In a day and age when our children are constantly told this LIE that their black bodies are criminal and deserving of dehumanization, when our children have to be told that #BlackLivesMatter, The Wiz arrives right on time and lets our children see that #BlackDREAMSMatter. Last night, our children had the opportunity to do something many Black children are not privy to experiencing... DREAM for themselves, as themselves...to LOVE themselves... to CELEBRATE themselves!

I will be purchasing the DVD.

That Crow Lunch was excellent. I'll take seconds... :)