Review: The Wiz ***

Wind back to Detroit in 1974 and a man called Ken Harper was about to unveil a brand-new Motown-inspired version of The Wizard of Oz. It opened on Broadway, won a trophy cabinet full of awards and, with the struggles of the civil rights movement still fresh in the mind, the all-black cast had resonance way beyond the stalls. However, following a truly awful film version, starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, The Wiz fell out of fashion, but it has now been revived by the joint talents of the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Rep. It’s by no means an easy task.

The Wiz sacrifices much of the storytelling of the original for an adrenalin-pumped score. There’s no subtlety here, but there are jazz hands in abundance.

Thankfully, the show is in good hands with a superb cast including Wayne Robinson as the Scarecrow and Clive Rowe as the Lion. There are moments when The Wiz descends into easy stereotypes and times when it seems more reminiscient of panto. However, while nothing comes close to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, there are enough big numbers to carry it all along.

This show is undoubtedly a good evening out, but 35 years after its premiere it fails to pack the same punch.

To July 16.