Review: 'The Wiz' At Clarksburg High School

A Cappies review of the performance of "The Wiz" at Clarksburg High School on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

By Helen Ganley, McLean High School

GERMANTOWN, MD — Dark silhouetted dancers twirl across an Emerald Green sky, welcoming all to the well-known land of imagination and wonder — with a twist. Recounting the classic tale of Dorothy with a bluesy and brassy spin, Clarksburg High School's production of "The Wiz" revealed a new, modern, and energetic side of Oz.

Debuting on Broadway in 1975, "The Wiz" is an urban adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz" that originally starred an all-black cast. Featuring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow, the movie spawned a 1984 Broadway revival. The story is familiar — Dorothy gets swept away from Kansas in a tornado and must find her way back home, meeting three equally needy companions along the way: the brainless, the heartless, and the courage less. "The Wiz," however, puts the story in a new context that reinvents the classic novel.

Strutting down the yellow brick road with strength and sincerity was Jeanne Lubika as Dorothy. Lubika impressed with her vocal stamina and range in "Home," which also demonstrated her vast range of emotions, from homesickness to friendly love. Who is Dorothy, however, without her crew? Sidling alongside her were Nelson Chen the fearful Lion, Nema Kebbeh the dim Scarecrow, and Ricky Cardenas the emotionless Tinman. Together, the group perpetuated a sense of family and familiarity, their genuine empathy for one another radiating through their expressions and body language.

Although supposedly firm and stiff, Cardenas renounced a rusty rendition with his smooth vocals and slick, flirtatious attitude. Tapping, singing, and smiling his way through "Slide Some Oil to Me," Cardenas wooed the audience with his sly advances and adept dancing. Adding a touch of poshness to the cowardly staple, Chen's devotion to Dorothy and flamboyance was distinct and appreciated. Kebbeh's sassiness and exaggerated movements, falling across the stage, propelled the group forward on their journey. At the end of the yellow brick road towers The Wiz, played by Sofia Tobares. Conquering the traditionally male role, Tobares's dominating presence and soaring voice in "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" contrasted heavily with her vulnerable realness in "Y'all Got This."

The dexterity and skill of the technical crews were clear in the construction of the many settings in Oz and beyond. The set crew created each scene using mobile set pieces and colored lights on the cyclorama. Costumes, from baggy scrubs to glittering gowns, demonstrated the wearer's class and status within the city. The entire show was interpreted by an adept group of student ASL translators, with multiple interpreters becoming the actors onstage.

While stemming from the tale of Lions, Tigers, and Bears, this urban rendition comments on class, diversity, and the socio-economics of modern-day America through a new lens. Clarksburg High School's production of "The Wiz" had everyone clicking their heels in an attempt to go back and do it all again.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Patch.