If you think that The Wiz needs an all-black cast to be really entertaining, think again. Jennifer Bortz of Stand Out Talent has once again worked her magic with a cast ranging from very young children to adults (including at least one entire family) to put on a high-energy show that should please everyone. And that “everyone” includes children. The night I saw the show, I’d say that one-third of the audience were under 18, with lots of very small children. I couldn’t help thinking, “These kids are going to grow up loving live theater.” Giving that gift to the children in the cast and in the audience is one of the reasons why Stand Out Talent is a community treasure.
The children in the audience might not have gotten the clever dialog and contemporary humor in this retelling of The Wizard of Oz, but they had to have been dazzled by the over-the-top costumes and make-up, especially those of the witches and Dorothy’s three “friends.” Speaking of Dorothy, it's her character that is critical to making this show work, and Madyson Mazzola delivered, with consistently good acting and the biggest singing voice you ever heard from a 13-year-old. And how about those "friends"? The characterizations of the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion – played by Ryan Knox, Craig Perra and Eddie Nason – were a delight. And I was amazed to learn that it was the first time for each of them to play a leading role. Nason, in particular, made me laugh to the point of tears. There was humor, too, in the disembodied voice of The Wiz, performed by Jason Bortz. It showed that you don't have to have someone to look at to experience great acting.
The ensemble numbers were a high point of this show, with its large cast. I’m not sure who was the very young man who led the singing in “Ease on Down the Road,” but his voice and charged-up personality really put that song over. Another show-stopper for me was “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News,” in which Sidney Raey was a wonderfully evil (and talented) Wicked Witch of the West.
The ensemble numbers, of course, highlighted the outstanding choreography (and some excellent individual dancing) of this show. Throughout the evening, I saw so many evidences of Jennifer Bortz’ creativity, but the innovative choreographic ideas were among the most interesting. (Wait till you see how the tornado was choreographed!) It’s because of all those creative touches that I’m confident in saying that you could never see The Wiz produced like this again. Check it out before this short run closes. And bring the kids: you’ll all have fun.
(posted by Craig on 8/19/13)
ReplyDeleteDick, thanks so much for this review. It was wonderful to be called a "delight" in your article. This has been such an incredibly powerful experience for me for a bunch of very cool reasons that I wanted to share about my journey to The Tinman.
In high school I had the chance to be in a play - The Wizard of Oz. Because of some arts credit mishap I needed one arts credit to graduate and I only had two months to do it. I was forced to try out - part of me was very excited and another terrorfied - and guess what? I got a lead role as the Tinman- but to make a long story short I chickened out.
I loved to rap and dance but I was a jock that's not what jocks do. I put myself in a box and I didn't let my true self shine. I quit and got to work backstage on the play to earn my credit.
I've thought about this cowardice every single play I've been too since 1989. Every single one. It doesn't matter if it's a kids play about the biosphere or Miss Saigon . . . It did't matter.
Like clockwork my wife would look over and there I was with a face full of tears. It didn't matter that I was a successful executive and attorney at a fortune 100 company, it didn't matter that I was a life coach with clients all over the world, and it didn't matter that I had an incredible wife that loved me and now two incredible kids. It didn't matter.
There was a hole inside. I needed to take action . . . to do something. And so I did. I tried out for a role in The Wiz convinced I'd be a tree if I was lucky. And that would have been just fine.
Jennifer Bortz at Stand Out Talent saw something in me and picked me as The Tinman. I thought it was a joke. I haven't been in a play since 6th grade. I've never done this before. Is she crazy? But I trusted her and tried my best to be my best version of this Tinman - who only needs a heart.
I've learned so much about myself, met some amazing people and tapped into a talent that I always knew was inside I just needed a vehicle to express it . . . and some courage.
And in this play I get to do it with my incredible wife - she's one of the ensomble dancers - the one doing the handstand during the last big song. My two awesome kids are also in the play.
We are all in this play together. Just like life.
Thank you for shining a light on this incredible corner of the planet at Stand Out Talent at the Tower Theater in Roseville.
I'm so happy you enjoyed my performance. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to say that.