LIMA — Encore Theatre’s production of “The Wiz” — an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” made famous in the 1978 movie with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson — wasn’t perfect or polished, but it’s well worth a stroll down that yellow brick road.
Why? It was fun. It was silly and sweet and the music was good. There might not be a better reason to go to the theater. It was a light-hearted, feel-good production and most audiences would take that over perfect and polished any day.
And it was also clear the cast was having a great time on stage. This is probably what gave this Encore version of “The Wiz” its extra little something. Their smiles were genuine and their energy was high. It was tangible throughout the theater.
Young Dorothy was Mya Lunguy, a middle-schooler with some solid vocal abilities. She was an adorable Dorothy — sweet, innocent and frightened so far from home — yet fierce in her loyalty to her friends. Don’t forget that child did, after all, kill two witches. The house falling on the first one might have been an accident, but the other? That was a contract hit, honey. Fierce.
Joshua Gooding had the dual role as Tin Man and Dorothy’s Uncle Henry, but was Tin Man for most of the show. Although he was looking for a heart, this Tin Man was all heart even before meeting the Wiz, a loving friend. And Chase Little-Battle was wonderful as Scarecrow, in search of his brains. Little-Battle made him a funny and charming companion for the young Dorothy.
Gary Martin was that guy in the lion suit, and as The Lion he wasn’t cowardly when it came to his solos. That lion could roar. He could also spit out one-liners right on beat. More comedic than cowardly, that lion. All panache and sass, except when he wanted his mommy. You’d also think that lion suit would be unwieldy, but Martin cavorted across the stage with a sashay and a flip of his mighty mane.
Jaimie Lewis, the Wiz, had attitude, and it was awesome. She was arrogant as the Wiz in all his glory and power, and vulnerable as the young woman exposed as the con behind the Wiz-ness. Her voice was strong and her solos enjoyable.
Evellene, a wicked witch, played by Morgan Bode, wasn’t on stage long, being swiftly dispatched by Dorothy and a bucket of water. To which the Lion quipped, “What the hell …” But before her unfortunate bath, Bode belted out the brilliant bad-witch anthem of “No Bad News.”
And for every evil witch, there’s got to be some good ones. McKena Hickman played the good witch Addaperle with a dash of ditz and good cheer. Karrie Lester was Glinda, and for her short time on stage she captured the magic of the musical with “A Rested Body is a Rested Mind” and the reprise of “Believe in Yourself.”
So slap on your silver shoes, baby, and click three times. Shows are Sunday, Friday, Saturday and July 24. For details on times and ticket prices, call 419-223-8866 or visit http://amiltellers.org.
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