 Finally reaching the Emerald City ( an analogue of the real @-@ life World Trade Center plaza ) , the quintet gains passage into the city because of Dorothy 's ownership of the silver slippers ; they marvel at the spectacle of the city and its sophisticated , fashion forward dancers . They are granted an audience with the Wiz ( Richard Pryor ) , who lives at the very top of the Towers . He appears to them as a giant fire @-@ breathing metallic head . He will only grant their wishes if they kill the sister of the Wicked Witch of the East , Evillene ( Mabel King ) , the Wicked Witch of the West , who runs a sweatshop in the underground sewers of Oz . Before they can reach her domain , Evillene learns of their quest to kill her and sends out the Flying Monkeys ( a motorcycle gang ) to kidnap them . 
