Defying gravity?

17/10/06

Wicked has finally arrived. Is it worth the hype?

A few years back I stumbled on the Gregory Maguire bestseller Wicked, when the musical based on the book was in production. I wondered how this novel of a much darker, politicised Oz – pre-Dorothy – would translate to stage. It seemed like a dramatically over ambitious feat – especially while being pitched as a family musical, with its mature political overtones.

Wicked, however - first and foremost - is a massive, hypnotic, glittery spectacle. And fair enough, as a ‘prequel’ to The Wizard of Oz , we have high expectations of the magnificence of Oz.

Wicked, aesthetically, is utterly awe-inspiring. From the giant mechanical dragon framing the proscenium, to the recreation of the shimmery yellow brick road, Wicked is an acid trip, and a fantastic one at that.

It’s impossible not to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhh’ at it, and the high flying Act 1 finale will leave you breathless.

The story begins with Elphaba, a misunderstood, yet highly talented green-skinned misfit, as she enters university. She unavoidably shares a room with none-other-than pampered, self-confident blond Glinda and despite initial hostilities with each other—the two girls form a tight bond.

As the friendship develops, the girls realise that ‘something bad is happening in Oz’. When faced with a crucial decision, morality kicks in and drives the girls in opposite directions; one chooses to be anti-establishment (guess which one?) while the other opts for fame and fortune.

Without delving into too much detail, at the heart of this story is a complex political allegory –sometimes simultaneously dealing with themes of racism, discrimination, propaganda, ethnic cleansing, and fascism.

The biggest problem with Wicked is that it’s so focussed on spectacle and efforts to please a broad audience, that even when it hints at the deeper themes, it doesn’t have enough time – or nerve, to actaully develop them. Instead, it insists on white-washing the story, making it less about politics, and more about the somewhat cringeworthy ‘sisterhood’ of these two women.

That said, there’s definitely a brain and heart there; it’s just a bit hard to see when you aren’t being blinded by bright emerald light.

The Wizard, for example, the clueless and self-proclaimed ‘hick’ ruler of Oz seems to allude to George Bush, while his henchmen eerily resemble those of the Third Reich. The story is also very clever in its approach to tie up all the loose ends of the Wizard of Oz ; explaining the siginifiance of the Ruby slippers, and how a tin man, a lion, and a scarecrow came to exist.

Wicked’s great strength, which complements the spectacle – lies in its leading ladies, Idina Menzel, who originated the role, and Helen Dallimore, who respectively play Elphaba and Glinda. They could't be better suited for the powerful female roles.

What’s especially interesting about Wicked is the rarity of two leading females in a musical, and the fact that the relationship and chemistry between the women is key to the story.

Menzel, Broadway royalty in her own right, originating roles in Rent and now Wicked, has entirely earned what is rumoured to be the highest paid West End female role to date.

She has lived and breathed the character of Elphaba since 2003 and her capacity to morph from a enthusiastic nerdy outcast to angry witch pop diva is simply astounding.

Likewise, Dallimore delights as the ebullient care-free blonde (strikingly similar to Big Brother’s Nikki), in her transformation to self-knowing esteemed public figure.

It’s interesting to watch these two characters grow into adults and lose their sense of optimism, and become disillusioned when faced with life’s inevitable complications.

Stephen Schwartz score and lyrics are pleasantly surprising. Although far from phenomenal, most tunes are memorable and without a doubt, teenage girls and show queens alike will flock to get a CD and sing along.

Highlights include a poignant and understated “I’m not that girl’ and the soaring pop ballad, “Defying gravity”, which is already the staple song of the show.

Expect Wicked to be around for the long haul.


To book, click here.

For general information, click here.