Variety: Revisited Wiz A Winner
Variety: Revisited Wiz A WinnerLast evening at the La Jolla Playhouse just north of San Diego, Des McAnuff's reimagined revival of The Wiz opened received at least one outstanding review (as of this writing, neither the San Diego Union Tribune or the Los Angeles Times had posted their verdicts).
Variety's Robert Verini gushed, "To call the La Jolla Playhouse production of The Wiz a mere revival is to understate the accomplishment of helmer Des McAnuff and his production team. They have rethought, rescaled and reshaped an uneven musical play of historical importance but modest virtues into a joyful, stunningly entertaining circus of spectacle, soul and heart....[D]on't be surprised to see it ease on down the interstate to a hearty Gotham welcome sometime soon."
That's a great harbinger of critical and popular success. I'll have more details once more reviews are posted.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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Related Stories:
Two High Flying Broadway-Bound Shows Begin Tonight (September 26, 2006)
Which Broadway Musical Will Depart Next? (August 21, 2006)
The Wiz Cast Set to Ease On Down the Road (July 25, 2006)
Labels: California, Critics' Capsule, Musical, Revival, San Diego, The Wiz
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, October 12, 2006
1 Comments:
Anne Marie Welsh of San Diego's Union-Tribune didn't share the enthusiasm of her Variety colleague.
In her review that appears today, she says, "The charming L. Frank Baum story feels wrong for the high-gloss hippified treatment, more buried than animated by the effects.... Making theater art is like alchemy, a process of fusing elements to make something new, and hopefully, golden. McAnuff was still in his work clothes when he made those announcements Wednesday. Clearly, the wizard is not done tinkering with 'The Wiz.'"
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