Following the familiar story, we find Dorothy in Kansas where she soon encounters a tornado visualized in the Tornado Ballet.  Once she lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, she is soon greeted by the Munchkins which are played here like country bumpkins.  The Good Witch of the North is Addaperle, a good-time girl, and she suggests that Dorothy will find a way home in Oz with the wizard.  On that journey, as she Eases on Down The Road, she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion.  Along the way they encounter everything from crows to poppies and even a dancing yellow brick road.  Once in Oz, the Wiz says that the only way these four friends can get home is by killing the Wicked Witch of the West.  After successfully melting her, they return to Oz only to find out that the Wizard is a fraud.  Glinda, The Good Witch, finally helps Dorothy in realizing that the way home is to believe in herself. 

The Director, Ronald Knight Martin, keeps the show moving briskly down that yellow brick road.   Calli Conti gives an energetic performance as Dorothy, the little girl lost.  Dorothy’s trio of friends offers her very strong support with Ben Carlson as the Lion, James Conger as the Scarecrow and Brian Smith as the Tin Man.  Carlson garners the Lion share of laughs with his lively performance.  Sarah Schulte is non-traditionally cast in the title role as The Wiz.  Schulte is a showstopper with a powerful voice and a larger-than-life stage persona.  The trio of witches, Carlie Rinehart as Addaperle, Heather Shields as Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West and Sienna Petree as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, each bring distinctive choices to their roles. Rinehart brings a comic edge, Petree (who doubles as Aunt Em) has a wonderful voice, and Shields takes the ugly, rotund character of Evillene in a different direction with a sexy, dominatrix interpretation.   This connects to the other more unique departure for the Corona del Mar version of The Wiz.  Evillene’s flying monkeys are now shirtless muscle guys in leather chaps with a nod to the Chippendale dancers.  

Cami Marseilles choreography is one of the strongest elements of the show featuring the dancers in both The Tornado Ballet and Everybody Rejoice.  Sophia Dawidoff is impressive as the featured Tornado dancer.  The ensemble deserves special mention from switching effortlessly from munchkins, to Ozians to slaves in Evillene’s castle. 

Corona del Mar delivered a high energy, engaging and vibrant production of The Wiz, which made many unique contributions to this classic tale. 

Performed April 30 - May 8, 2010 

Robert Rotenberry
National Youth Theatre