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The Wiz
Reviewed by Carle Braxton
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Don Mauck (Lion) with Yellow Brick Road singers from the The Wiz.
PHOTO: P. Switzer |
About the play, so so good. I love the wagon (the facsimile of Dorothy’s house), the women playing,
the singing, and the lights. The women coming out marching around six times, the legs under the table, the
small girl talking on the stage, the big tall men going around all the people in a circle around the table
all making noises, jumping up and down, and going to take the table back. Looks very nice. Love the lion.
Love there was smoke coming up around the table. Love they own one another. Love they jump up and down.
Love their going in and out. Love it when they sing 20 nice songs.
When they drink wine, drink water, when they pour water on you. Love when they dance around 20 times.
Love it when the men come out and they talk to you. Love the clothesline. Love the way the girl came back
to pour oil on her (Tingirl). Love how she talks to everyone there. Love the songs, so so good. Love it
when they all got into a circle. So so good. Love it when they all talk to the small girl. Love it when
they are all sleeping on the floor (Poppy field). Love the dog’s bark. Sleep scared them. Love that
the dog, stayed and walked around. Love it when they all look at one another, when they all hold hands.
I love it when everyone sits in all the chairs, all laugh so so loud, scream, all scream, stamp their
feet hard. Love when they all do the jumping on one another. Love the lights. Love how they turn on and
off. Love it when they all run around and then just stand there together.
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| ©2006 Colorado BackStage |
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Preface: I worked with Carle Braxton for years along with several other developmental disabled
adults. He loves music and loves theatre, and attended the opening night of PHAMALy’s The Wiz
at the Space Theatre last Friday night. The following morning he told me he had written some notes on what
he saw. When I asked him if he would like me to post his review on my website, he broke into a grin from
head to toe. With a smile that makes angels sing, a man of few words, Carle is one of the most observant
perceptive people I have ever met. As a master checkers player, I watched him throw games while playing
with one who was just learning to play. He never called attention to what he was doing. He said nothing,
just did it. When I asked him why, he beamed his famous smile and simply said, “If I won all the
games, he wouldn’t want to play any more.” That’s Carle inside and out. Carle is a gift
of magic and a Prize. When people take the time to listen to him through his silence and few chosen words,
they win.
These are his thoughts. This is what he saw. Until recently Carle used the word love very sparingly.
For several years I never heard him mention it at all; a significant piece of information in reading his
thoughts on PHAMALy’s magnificent production of The Wiz. I have watched Carle grow in his
observations, his thinking, his writing, and he deserves to be heard. I am honored he continues to share
his thoughts with me. I am honored he continues to stretch his mind through writing his notes, and I am
honored he calls me friend.
Read and Enjoy knowing this comes from the heart of a man who has one bigger than all outdoors. He
carries within him his own Wizard. He knows. When you mention it to him, he may say nothing, but that smile,
that smile speaks volumes. — Holly
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