The visual effect alone on entering the auditorium is awe-inspiring. A massive dragon with luminous red eyes waves around above the stage.
The first scene introduces Galinda (Sarah O’Connor) who descends seated on a huge pendulum. The villages are rejoicing at the death of Elphaba (Laura Pick); however, it transpires that Galinda not only knew her but was her friend, and so the story unfolds. The next scene flashes back to when both began at college, introducing Madame Morrible (Donna Berlin), where Galinda and Elphaba end up sharing a room and then the classroom with Doctor Dillamond (Simeon Truby), and so the story and their friendship develops. Odd statements help establish characters, like Galinda saying, “isn’t it good to see me? No that was a rhetorical question!”
These two witches relate the story of Oz before and after Dorothy's arrival, exploring the complex friendship between Elphaba (who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (who becomes Glinda the Good). Their relationship is tested having contrasting personalities, conflicting viewpoints, shared love interest and reactions to the corrupt rule of the Wonderful Wizard (Simeon Truby).
It has many layers, not only of friendship, loyalty, love, hypocrisy, devotion but modern similarities, people are still victimised for their colour, selfishly full of their own importance and have misguided allegiance. While this is a musical, each scene and number carries the story forward and develops it, a real integral part of the show, which is not always true of a musical, refreshing. It is not only extremely entertaining but holds your attention and sympathy, so involving you.
The scrumptious costumes (Susan Hilferty) are a visual delight, the lighting (Kenneth Posner) amazing, the sound (Tom Meola) excellent, set (Eugene Lee) stunning, wonderful wigs (Tom Watson), Jim Arnold CDG of UK Casting has assembled an extremely strong talented cast acting- and singing-wise, with many extraordinary voices. The director Joe Mantello co-ordinates this complex production brilliantly; a thoroughly super, solid show in every area.
As I said, the acting is very strong. Pick and O’Connor establish a real bond, making you feel emotion at the outcome, while Truby plays two very different parts confidently with extreme ease; ironically, he sings, "They all call me wonderful" and he is. With a cast of 33, it is difficult to mention all, but they are all certainly are to be commended
Originally based on L Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this musical is an adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maquire novel Wicked; The life and Times of the Wicked Witch of The West and the 1939 film adaption The Wizard of Oz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman—quite a history. This production, having won over 100 global awards, premièred on Broadway in 2003, with many productions worldwide and a long-running West End one, breaking box office records around the world. In 2016, it surpassed $1 billion in total Broadway revenue, and in 2017 became Broadway's second highest grossing musical, trailing only The Lion King, and watching it, you can see why.
What else can one say about Wicked, except that it is a wildly wonderful wicked show—go see and enjoy it and be bewitched as the packed theatre was.