On the 9th April 2018 I was privileged to be able to watch Wicked which was adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel written in 1995. This adaptation first premiered in London’s West End in 2006. Meaning it has been running for 12 years but it is still able to cast its spell upon thousands of people yearly since it first premiered. It has received unanimous approval from those who have watched the musical.
As you walked into the Apollo Victoria Theatre you were surrounded by the emerald green foyer which exceeded my wildest expectations. The walls were adorned with green luminescent lights which guided you to the plentiful stands of merchandise and refreshments which you could purchase while waiting for the performance to begin. The audience was tremendously diverse with all ages eagerly awaiting to take their seats. This classic tale is well renown and makes it easier for a variety of ages to follow the musical without being perplexed.
The musical has two acts which were skilfully scripted and it was able to keep the audience engaged throughout. Furthermore, there was an immaculate balance between singing and the acting of the storyline which was exquisitely maintained throughout the musical. This means that you do not have to be an immense musical fan or connoisseur to appreciate this compelling tale. Everybody knows the classic story of the Wizard of Oz but do you know the whole story? This musical is the untold story of the wicked witch and her friendship with Glinda but the musical still merged some of the classical Wizard of Oz elements such as the tin man and the scarecrow. Winnie Holzman’s adapted version of Wicked is a heart-warming tale which is able to capture the friendship, longing and trauma which the two protagonists face in their journey to find themselves. These two-young women, Glinda and Elphaba meet at sorcery school and are portrayed as polar opposites who become the unlikeliest of friends.
The stage cleverly transformed into a variety of different places from the Hogwarts like sorcery school to the Emerald City in Oz. The set changes were impeccable and unnoticeable until it had been completed. Furthermore, the costumes were intricately designed and perfectly captured the mystical land of Oz. The costume changes were mesmerising and the audience gazed in anticipation waiting to see what they would be wearing next.
They also incorporated a moving wyvern which was located high above the stage and made the climactic scenes more dramatic and it was adeptly moved during most of the performance. Towards the end of the musical the production incorporated the use of a strategically placed curtain so that the audience could only see the casts’ shadows. This added a sense of seriousness to the musical as we were only able to witness the dramatic scene through the use of skilfully placed shadows.
It was a once in a life time opportunity, which was entertaining for all ages as the spellbinding songs wanted to make you sing along. Once again, Winnie Holzman’s adaptation was inspirational, innovative and thought provoking.
Katie Trebes, The Sydney Russell School.
