Wicked the Musical

‘Wicked the Musical’ was absolutely fantastic! I must admit, I was a little sceptical about how good it was really going to be, because it seemed to be a little too hyped up for me, and I tend to be wary about getting into something just because others have (I tend to be more judgemental when there’s something that everyone likes), so I went into the theatre with my over-judgement persona on, but that quickly washed away. I am jumping on that bandwagon, and let me tell you, there’s a reason why that wagon is so big and full! This musical was so much better than I expected.

Not only was the story itself great, with telling parallels between the Land of Oz and the world, but its lessons and themes were delivered in a way that was not condescending or accusatory of the darker aspects of humanity. Rather, the commentaries on friendship, familial obligations, political tyranny and loyalty were cleverly delivered with wit, comedic personalities and some very contemporary jazz-hands. The creators deserve huge kudos in their ability to explore the processes of good and evil, and to present this duality in the main characters organically. And of course these characters were played by fine actors whose performances blew the audience away. Jemma Rix’s portrayal of Elphaba, the misunderstood wicked witch of the West, was touching and allowed the audience to really empathise with the character and her position as a victim of circumstance. Meanwhile, as Glinda the Good, Lucy Durack played superficial and self-serving in a way that made it charming, endearing and actually quite becoming. And the relationship which grows from these two completely different, but equally ambitious young women speaks volumes of the real human capacity for the love that exists within a strong friendship to overcome everything from superficial differences to deeper disparities in values and ambitions. One really believes that these two people – one good, the other wicked – really are the best of friends.

Finally, the overall production was phenomenal. The sets and costumes really take the audience into that magical Land of Oz. And of course, the music. The Wicked soundtrack is amazing, and is a real work of art in its own right. I’ve been listening to nothing but this record all week. The songs only enhance the depth and complexity of the story, telling their own little story, in and of themselves.