Theatrical Adaptation

9-14-06 #2

I think The Wiz is a good representation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, despite the many obvious changes that have been made to it. The way that it has been adapted allows the story to reach more audiences and relate to them on a whole new level. The first, more obvious changes are that the film has been modified so that it is in a current time period, where all of the characters are black. This brings on a whole new perspective to The Wizard of Oz (1939), which has a historically white cast. Having an all black cast allowed the film to explore a new medium of telling this classic tale. More and more people were able to relate to the characters modern language, dress, background, and the music presented in The Wiz, than in the classic movie. The connections that people began to have with this movie allow it to be understood from a whole new perspective. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wiz) We may not all be able to relate to the quaint, young, farm girl from Kansas during the 1930’s, in relation to the young adult, school teacher who lives in a New York City apartment and is struggling through life with many more of the same problems we experience today.

As for the storyline of the movie, not everything would be able to remain the same, but Lumet does a good job of staying true to the story. When Dorothy arrives in Munchkin land, she falls through a sign locating Oz in the galaxy and ends up in a park, surrounded by graffiti children and a rapping Good Witch. Although it may stray from the idea of a chorus of munchkins, in all their adorableness, and their land of bright colors, flowers and happiness, it represents the same story in a modernized, more hip, fashion. The Good witch is still good and tells Dorothy where to go and what she needs to do, the children still sing their gratitude to Dorothy and they all whisk her away on her journey down the yellow brick road. Another difference, as the characters travel down the yellow brick road, and throughout the story, they sing entirely different songs. In the beginning there is no “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” but still a song that shows that Dorothy feels as if she doesn’t belong with her family and wants to go on an adventure of her own. Also, “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” does not appear in the film; instead “Ease on Down the Road” takes its place adding the hip, new exciting beats that the film is playing toward. One final example, the Wiz is still a curious and lonely man who is faking his way along, trying to make the people believe that he truly is a wizard and has magical powers. He gives each of the characters a different representation of what they come desiring than what the wizard gives in The Wizard of Oz, but the premise is still the same.

There are several differences between The Wiz, and The Wizard of Oz, but I believe that The Wiz still holds true to the original story. It comes from a different perspective and has to change the story to remain constant with the modernized story. I do not believe that it takes away from the original at all, but perhaps enhances it. It allows more people to relate to it and find interest and enjoyment in this classic tale. It never hurts to take a look at something you are familiar with from an entirely new angle; it brings about aspects that you may have never noticed. The Wiz does a good job staying true to the story while adapting it to suit a current audience and allowing some spunk to pep up a classic.

posted by Ann @ 12:57 AM