'The Wiz' Wows Crowds at High School

By Brenna Carroll, Bishop Ireton High School student

All that could be heard coming from T.C. Williams High School’s auditorium on a recent Friday night was laughter and applause as members of "The Wiz" cast delighted audience members with musical numbers from the upbeat redo of a classic tale based on L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

Decorated with a script full of wit and a libretto filled with endlessly catchy melodies, by Charlie Small and William F. Brown, "The Wiz" was sure to be a night of fun on all sides of the stage lights.

The story follows Dorothy on her journey from Kansas to Oz as she encounters creatures unimaginable in the real world. Dorothy, played by senior Samantha Rose Williams, showed off her range of emotion, especially in the delivery of her songs. The closing ballad, “Home” had audiences at their feet before the orchestra could play the final bars.

Other great vocalists included Kamen Wilks (Lion), Ben Ribler (Scarecrow) and Alejandro Cruz (Tinman), who all accompany Dorothy on her quest. Wilks, as the Cowardly Lion, had audiences breathless with laughter as each one of his seemingly effortless jokes perfectly landed. This, complemented by his easy vocals, caused audiences to scream and shout at curtain call.

Ribler, the Scarecrow, was charming as the good guy in search of brains. His song, “I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday” possessed high energy and fun. However, all these solo performances were made even better by a fabulous ensemble. Almost every number included a choreographed ensemble routine, which was executed cleanly and with infectious enthusiasm.

This show not only contained a talented cast and orchestra but also a quick and swift technical crew. Complex lighting designs, set changes, and special effects all added up to create a believable setting for Dorothy and friends to experience Oz. Although a few technical glitches and sound issues were encountered, the crew quickly resolved problems and kept the show on pace. The student orchestra also demonstrated an innate ability to follow along with this show’s demanding pace accompanying the actors in every musical number.

"The Wiz" was nothing but amusement, and controlling the urge to jump up and dance along with the cast. The good time had by the actors was clearly shown throughout the show right up until the final curtain. All an audience member can ask for is a show with energy and belief in what an actor is doing. T.C. Williams only shows what a high school is capable of if they really work hard and simply click their heels three times.

Editor's Note: Patch presents this review as part of the Cappies Program for high school drama. The Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) is an international program for recognizing, celebrating, and providing learning experiences for high school theater and journalism students and teenage playwrights.