British critics have given generally favorable reviews to the Manchester revival of The Wiz, the 1975 Tony-winning musical retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s novel The Wizard of Oz, being presented at Hope Mill Theatre through January 16. It’s the first professional UK staging of the show since Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s 2011 revival. The creative team includes William F. Brown (book), Charlie Smalls (score), Matthew Xia (direction), Leah Hill (choreography), Sean Green (music supervision), Ehsaan Shiviarani (music direction), Simon Kenny (production design), Simisola Majekodunmi (lights), and Tony Gayle (sound).
The cast includes Cherelle Williams (Dorothy), Tarik Frimpong (Scarecrow), Llewellyn Graham (Tinman), Jonathan Andre (Lion), Cameron Bernard Jones (Wiz), Anelisa Lamola (Addaperle), Bree Smith (Aunt Em / Glinda), Kofi Dennis (Lord High), and Ashh Blackwood (Evillene), with Andile Mabhena, Shayna McPherson, Dylan Gordon-Jones, Samantha Shuma, Marisha Morgan. Below is Williams singing “Soon as I Get Home.”
The Independent (Holly Williams): Matthew Xia’s production bills itself as its own “radical” retelling of The Wiz, promising a contemporary black British update on the African-American original. This also sounds smart — but the interventions are often too small to properly register. … More successful is Sean Green’s inventive re-scoring. Don’t worry: there’s no scrimping on the tasty funk and soul grooves of the original. … But Green updates the toe-tapping score, too, deliberately drawing on different genres from across the African diaspora. 3 out of 5 stars.
Telegraph (Mark Brown): In 1974 came the premiere, in Baltimore, Maryland, of The Wiz … so successful that the show transferred to Broadway. … However, it has not enjoyed the status that it deserves here in the UK. That may well be about to change, courtesy of this superb co-production by Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre and Ameena Hamid Productions.. … However, it cries out for the kind of resources, and the big stages, that are enjoyed by West End musicals, many of which are frankly miles behind this show in terms of quality, talent and sheer entertainment. 4 out of 5 stars.
Theatre Reviews North (Richard Evans): This is a thoroughly exciting show, with a cast full of energy, enthusiasm and rhythm. … Of course, the story is iconic for good reason, with its message of finding within yourself all that is necessary to overcome any challenge. … There is a nuance here that speaks about Oz not being the land of golden opportunity we think, and that “home” has its merits. … This musical has never made it to the West End, but after a performance like this, that can only be mystifying. 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.
What’s On Stage (Matt Barton): It opens, like the classic 1939 film, in black and white. … We’re uprooted in an arresting tornado of visual effects and flurrying movement. … The magic of this spectacle is let down by clunky, gratuitous choices. … The show finds vibrance when it breaks out of this. When each of Dorothy’s companions is introduced, their songs are nicely inflected with character details. … These moments can lift you up like the Wiz’s hot air balloon, but overall the production feels lacking a little soul of its own. 3 out of 5 stars.