The Characters

The Wiz is full of fab, funky and funny characters, so here's a bit about them...

DOROTHY- the leading lady of the piece, Dorothy is a trouble teenage who doesn't want the extra responsibility her Aunt Em is trying to thrust upon her. She is blown away by a tornado, ending up- you guessed it- in the land of Oz. Dorothy has two solo songs- As Soon As I Get Home and Home (Finale), as well as a duet with the Lion- Be A Lion. My favourite Dorothy quote is:
"Aw, I'm not much help around here for you and Uncle Henry. Always daydreaming and stuff. I bet it would be a big load off your back if I did blow away, wouldn't it?"

SCARECROW- Actually the brains of the gang, the Scarecrow wants to get some brains from the Wiz (who gives him 'All Brain' as a substitute). The Scarecrow is the first of the three who meets Dorothy, and eagerly joins up with her on her journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. The Scarecrow has only one solo- I Was Born On The Day Before Yesterday. My favourite Scarecrow quote is: 
"Now at no time did it dawn on you to get yourself a new axe?"

TINMAN- The Tinman- who was once a real flesh and blood woodchopper- longs for a heart, so he can feel. He became tin when a wicked witch put a spell on his axe, causing him to, bit by bit, chop body parts off, to get them replaced by a tinsmith he knew. The Tinman gets two solos- Slide Some Oil To Me and What Would I Do If I Could Feel? My favourite Tinman quote is:
"All you fine ladies out there...ha ha ha...Watch out!"

LION- Last of the three to meet Dorothy, the Lion thinks he is a hopeless coward. However, he shows his bravery on more than one occasion, although he still feels the need to ask the Wiz for courage. The Lion sings I'm A Mean Ole Lion and the duet Be A Lion with Dorothy. My favourite Lion quote is:
"Yeah! There you go, Jack, I sure did. And I would have done more in there too, but right in the middle of it there, I got this fur ball!"

THE WIZ- Or so he claims. The Wiz is really just a 'former nobody from Omaha, Nebraska', who was transported to Oz in his hot air balloon by a violent wind storm. When he arrived- right in the middle of a ladies social- the women of Oz thought a miracle had delivered him to them, and promoted him as a wizard. Dorothy and Friends reveal him for what he truly is- a fake, a fraud, a phony (and how!)- but get him to agree to go back to Kansas with Dorothy. Sadly, the balloon flies, before Dorothy can get in, taking the Wiz away from Oz forever... The Wiz sings So You Wanted To Meet The Wizard, Believe in Yourself and Y'all Got It! My favourite Wiz quote is:
"Will you lay off the Wizness business?"

ADDAPERLE- The Good Witch of the North, also known by the stage name "Addaperle- the Feel Good Girl". I'm sad to say that Addaperle isn't the best at magic tricks, though she does try! Sister to Glinda, Evillene and Evvamene, the three other witches of Oz. Addaperle has only the one musical number- He's the Wiz! My favourite Addaperle quote is:
"Well, of course I could have. But look at all the people I'd have put out of work."

EVILLENE- The Wicked Witch of the West, Evillene is one mean cookie! She enslaved all the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys to do her bidding, she captures Dorothy and her friends and tries to force Dorothy to give her the Silver Slippers... However, good wins through and Evillene is melted down her toilet. She has one song, Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News and my favourite Evillene quote is:
"Don't you come signifying to me, you little ape, or I'll put a spell on your…coconuts!"

GLINDA- The Good Witch of the South, Glinda is the last of the witches we meet in Oz. Glinda- whose magic does actually work- is the most beautiful of all the witches (taking after Addaperle, of course). Glinda is the one who finally reveals the secret of the Silver Slippers to Dorothy. Glinda gets two songs- A Rested Body Is A Rested Mind and Believe in Yourself (Reprise). My favourite Glinda quote is:
"Why, honey, you got your silver slippers. They'll take you home in no time. Don't you ever talk to your feet?"

AUNT EM- Dorothy's aunt, and wife to Uncle Henry, Aunt Em works on the farm, and whilst she still loves Dorothy very much, she wishes Dorothy would be more helpful and useful, instead of always playing with Toto. Aunt Em sings The Feeling We Once Had and my favourite Aunt Em quote is:
"...think. No, you never do, child. Now we're fixin' for a twister an' you're playin' games with that dog. And in your Sunday dress, too! Serve you right if you both blew away!"

UNCLE HENRY- Owner of the farm, Uncle Henry plays a very minor role in this show. He does not have a song, but my favourite Uncle Henry quote is:
"Em! Dorothy! Hurry! This here's a big one!"

ROYAL GATEKEEPER- Guardian of the entrance to the Emerald City, the Gatekeeper is often out for all he can get from someone. Arrogant and self-important, he can be quite funny- but don't anyone tell him I said that! (Addaperle's note- When I appeared in "The Wiz", I played the Gatekeeper, and it's fab role!) The Gatekeeper also has no songs. My favourite Gatekeeper quote is:
"I am the Royal Gatekeeper. And we don't allow any trash here in the Big Green Apple."

LORD HIGH UNDERLING- Toady to Evillene, the Lord High Underling comes across as a rather unpleasant character. However, when Evillene's spell is removed, he's just another Winkie who's grateful Dorothy has freed him! Again, he has no songs, but my favourite Underling quote is:
"My summer place, too?"