Wicked, to me, is a new musical - one of those that isn’t a classic, and that people seem to like but that isn’t one of the “greats”. Now I’ve seen it, I think all of those assumptions are wrong!
For a start, it’s 20 years old! It’s a strong story (a familiar one, but still strong) and it has some now-classic songs. I think it was last year I heard “Popular” on the radio in an interview with Kristin Chenoweth who played Glinda in the original cast and was blown away by how catchy it is - and of course, Defying Gravity has a very recognisable chorus.
I was struck during the show how similar the story is to Frozen… and that got me thinking how Idina Menzel who voices Elsa would be brilliant as Elphaba (the “Wicked” witch)... and then I discovered that Menzel did play Elphaba in the original cast! That would have been an embarrassing thought process in a room of Musical lovers. You can hear her sing it here on TikTok.
Megan Gardiner was our very talented Glinda in Bristol, and Laura Pick our phenomenal Elphaba
Anywho, I knew the story line was about the Wicked Witch of the West before Dorothy’s adventures in The Wizard of Oz…. what I didn’t expect was for the stories to overlap slightly. I don’t think I’m giving anything away to say that the last part of Wicked - maybe 20 minutes or so, it’s hard to say in hindsight - is the beginning of the Wizard of Oz, told from other points of view. For that reason, I’d recommend recapping on The Wizard of Oz before you go to watch Wicked - as I was there trying to remember what the Lion’s issue was, or what the Tin Man wanted from life. (I’ve put a summary recap at the end of this blog post.)
There are some powerful messages in Wicked, such as the idea of truth being subjective, and of course - as with the main Wizard himself, the idea of propaganda and not believing everything you’re told by those in power.
“The truth is not a thing of fact or reason, the truth is just what everyone agrees on. Where I’m from, we believe all kinds of things that aren’t true. We call it - ‘history’.”
The Wizard
My husband would hate the injustice in the story - I was watching it thinking “this would make Tom so sad and frustrated”! It’s also kinda like The Ugly Duckling - but without the beautiful swan ending. It’s thought provoking and could give you a cynical feeling about the world - but I tried to view it more as inspiring me to live life like the good characters in the story. It’s certainly more of a statement about the world than anything else I’ve seen in the (musical) theatre lately.
WIth regards to kids watching it, it’s recommended for kids 8 and above - I think children under 5 aren’t allowed in (but that might depend on the theatre). My friend was at the same viewing with her 9 year old and there were a few times I thought to myself that I hoped she was OK - as it is quite dark at times. Despite one part making her jump, it was just about OK overall.
Overall I would highly recommend it - it’s definitely a classic!
A reminder of the Wizard of Oz story
"The Wizard of Oz" is a classic children's novel written by L. Frank Baum, first published in 1900. The story follows Dorothy Gale, a young girl who lives on a Kansas farm with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. When a cyclone hits their farm, Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept away to the magical land of Oz.
In Oz, Dorothy is greeted by colourful characters including the Munchkins and Glinda the Good Witch. She learns that to return home, she must seek the help of the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City.
As Dorothy journeys through the Land of Oz, she encounters three companions, each seeking something from the Wizard of Oz:
1. The Scarecrow: The Scarecrow desires a brain. Despite being made of straw, he proves to be remarkably intelligent throughout their journey. However, he believes that having a brain would make him truly wise and capable of making rational decisions.
2. The Tin Woodman (Tin Man): The Tin Woodman seeks a heart. He was once a flesh-and-blood woodsman, but a curse turned him into a tin man. Despite his metallic exterior, he still feels emotions deeply and longs for a heart to experience love and compassion fully.
3. The Cowardly Lion: The Cowardly Lion is in search of courage. Despite his intimidating appearance, the Lion is plagued by fear and lacks the confidence to confront his challenges. He joins Dorothy in hopes that the Wizard will grant him the bravery he so desperately desires.
Together, Dorothy and her newfound friends embark on a quest to seek help from the Wizard, each hoping to find what they lack within themselves. (Along the way, they discover that they already possess these qualities in abundance and that their journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about reaching the Emerald City.)
As they travel through Oz, they encounter various challenges and dangers, including the Wicked Witch of the West, who seeks revenge on Dorothy for accidentally killing her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East. With the help of her friends, Dorothy overcomes these obstacles and reaches the Emerald City.
However, when they finally meet the Wizard, they discover that he is just an ordinary man behind a curtain, operating machinery to create the illusion of power. Despite this revelation, the Wizard helps Dorothy's companions realise their true strengths and grants Dorothy's wish to return home.
Using the power of the Silver Shoes (Ruby Slippers in the 1939 film adaptation), given to her by the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy is transported back to Kansas. She wakes up in her own bed, surrounded by her family, realising that there is no place like home.
Wicked: a plot summary
For anyone who wants it, here is a summary of the plot of Wicked - BUT please be aware it includes spoilers!
The story begins with the birth of Elphaba (later to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West), who is born with green skin, to the dismay of her parents. She grows up feeling isolated and misunderstood due to her appearance. At Shiz University, she meets Glinda (later to be the Good Witch of the North), a popular and bubbly student. Despite their differences, they form an unlikely friendship.
Elphaba discovers her extraordinary magical abilities and becomes roommates with Glinda. They become involved in the political turmoil of Oz, where the Wizard's oppressive regime discriminates against animals (which can talk and are equal members of society) and others deemed different.
Elphaba, driven by her sense of justice and compassion, intervenes to save a Lion from harm. However, her actions inadvertently lead to unintended consequences for the Lion.
During one of their encounters, Elphaba uses her magic to protect the Lion from danger, potentially risking her own safety in the process. However, the Lion's perception of the event, combined with his own insecurities and fears, results in him interpreting the incident as a traumatic experience. This event contributes to the Lion's self-identification as cowardly, shaping his character and future actions.
Meanwhile Glinda becomes popular among the citizens of Oz and falls in love with Fiyero, who also becomes attracted to Elphaba.
At one point, Elphaba attempts to save the life of a Munchkin named Boq after her sister Nessarose (the Wicked Witch of the East), accidentally or deliberately, stops his heart from beating. Nessarose has romantic feelings for Boq, however when Boq rejects her affections, Nessarose uses her magical abilities to curse him.
In an attempt to undo the damage and save Boq's life, Elphaba casts a spell that inadvertently turns him into the Tin Man. The spell's unintended consequences result in Boq's body becoming encased in tin, effectively transforming him into the iconic character known as the Tin Man.
Elphaba's actions lead to her being labelled as the Wicked Witch of the West by the Wizard's propaganda machine. Glinda becomes conflicted between her loyalty to Elphaba and her desire to maintain her social status.
As tensions rise, Elphaba and Glinda's friendship is tested. Fiyero is captured and presumably killed by the Wizard's guards, causing further strain between the two friends. In fact, Elphaba has turned him into the scarecrow inorder to keep him alive.
Using Nessarose as leverage, the Wizard manipulates the situation to draw Elphaba out of hiding, hoping to capture or defeat her. This scheme ultimately leads to the tragic event where Dorothy's house, caught in a cyclone, crash-lands on Nessarose, resulting in her death.
The death of Nessarose serves as a turning point in the story, fueling Elphaba's grief, anger, and sense of betrayal. It intensifies her conflict with the Wizard and solidifies her reputation as the Wicked Witch of the West in the eyes of the citizens of Oz. This event also sets the stage for Dorothy's arrival in Oz.
In the climactic moments of "Wicked," Elphaba, overwhelmed by the betrayal of the Wizard and the loss of her loved ones, decides to fake her own death in order to escape the persecution and start anew. With the help of Glinda, she orchestrates a plan to stage her demise, ensuring that she can disappear without fear of pursuit.
Elphaba's plan involves a dramatic confrontation with the Wizard's forces, during which she appears to be fatally wounded. However, in reality, she uses her magical abilities to create the illusion of her demise, allowing her to slip away unnoticed.
Following Elphaba's supposed death, Glinda, grieving for her friend, decides to reveal the truth about Elphaba's parentage to the Wizard. Glinda informs the Wizard that Elphaba was his daughter, born as a result of a liaison he had with Elphaba's mother.
Upon learning the truth, the Wizard is overcome with guilt and remorse, realising the extent of his actions and their impact on his own family. He believes that his mistreatment of Elphaba has ultimately contributed to her death, further adding to his sense of responsibility and regret.
Elphaba's faked death allows her to escape the persecution of Oz and live in seclusion with the Scarecrow/Fiyero. Together, they find solace and happiness away from the troubles of the world, while the Wizard is left to grapple with the consequences of his actions and the revelation of his connection to Elphaba.
