In any show, musical or play, there is always some sort of hidden message that is being relayed to the audience through the use of singing, dancing and/or acting. With that said, I always feel compelled to seek out these messages when watching or participating in a show such as this.
I just finished up participating in a local show titled "The Wiz". "The Wiz" is a more soulful take on the famous classic "The Wizard of Oz". The basic storyline is the same, with Dorothy being taken from her home by a large storm and being dropped down in Oz, surrounded by colors, sights and sounds she has never experienced before. She then comes across the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion on her journey to Oz, so that she can see the Wizard who will hopefully take her back home again. Her three friends are also seeking things from the Wizard, and hope that they receive them upon their arrival as well.
These friends and their encounters carry a few of these hidden lessons. I will be sharing them with you, to hopefully create a sense of comfort and happiness in times that you are seeking courage, feeling a bit silly or simply needing to take a trip home.
1. The Scarecrow is seeking a brain, as you all know. He has nothing but straw encompassing his head and crevices of his body. Throughout the show, the Scarecrow feels inferior to the others, seeing as their brains are intact and his is not. However, the dramatic irony of the Scarecrow’s situation is that he is in fact one of the most knowledgeable characters and he simply does not know it. With that said, it is essential to realize that often we feel as if we are inferior to others who may have more information on topics, be more interested in various things or seem to be more serious than we are. The Scarecrow tells us however, that it is alright to have moments of silliness, moments of being confident in the abilities that we do have and to have faith in our purpose.
2. Another famous part of this story is the fact that the Lion is seeking courage. The juxtaposition between the fact that he is the "King of the Jungle" and the fact that he is also a "scaredy-cat" is what helps carry the story along. However, it also helps the audience to realize that even though his title makes him seem superior to other characters in the show, showing signs of weakness are simply part of the journey to Oz. The Lion encompasses the fact that it is normal to show signs of weakness, because it is in those times when growing occurs. Though the future may not be certain, being strong after times of vulnerability is an alright thing.
3. The Tin Man is the last of Dorothy's friends, and he is seeking something that we all seek daily: a good heart. The Tin Man says that he was once made of flesh and blood, but a spell turned him into the man of tin that he is now. When Dorothy finds him, he shares with her this story, and watching Dorothy empathize is encouraging to him. What the Tin Man does not see in himself is the fact that he is one of the most compassionate members of the foursome, which juxtaposes his theory that he does not have a heart. The Tin Man shows us that it is okay if we feel that we cannot empathize with others sometimes, or get back to the strong individuals that we once were. Showing how much we care and displaying our thoughtfulness in the end for those around us is what is most important.
4. Lastly, Dorothy is taken from her home and must find her way back with the help of some new friends. Their words of wisdom, on top of her personal meditation and advice-seeking is what leads her back home in the end. We often stray off of our paths, and we can't always find our way back easily. However, seeking help from others is never showing weakness or proving not to be strong in our own abilities. Asking for help and seeking advice shows strength, and displays to others the idea that we see their opinions and thoughts as worthy of listening to, and following.
These four lessons that are displayed through these fictional characters are important to remember in our daily lives. Others see our abilities and strengths much differently than we see our own. In fact, people can see us as being intelligent, courageous, empathetic and comforting, when we see just the opposite in ourselves.
