Wicked, the spellbinding musical that tells the story of the witches of Oz, has most recently glided into its 12th year smash hit at the Apollo Victoria, London. It has now surpassed Billy Elliot as one of the longest running musicals, becoming the 16th longest running show in London’s history.Wicked the Musical, is based on the best-selling critically acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that completely revamps the characters written by Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz In his story, WICKED, he creates a world pre-Dorothy where there is a wonderful mismatched friendship between two witching students. It ultimately sees them both fulfil their destinies, these witches are Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West.
We start by seeing Elphaba (Alice Fearns) back story, her mother played away during marriage and that is perhaps why she is born a fluorescent green. Later on, Elphaba, the has been sent to Shiz University - but not for her own benefit - to aid her wheel-chair bound sister Nessa (Understudy Rosa O’Reilly). There, Madame Morrible (played by the commanding Melanie La Barrie) discovers Elphaba’s talents for witchcraft, and endevaours to help Elphaba meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Fearn’s solo performances were really something to behold, her first song being ‘The Wizard and I’ was beautifully acted, which filled the auditorium with excitement for what was to come.
Elphaba then is separated from her sister, and forced to share a room with Garlinda (who later becomes Glinda, played by the fiercely talented Sophie Evans) they both start with hating one another, but through a series of events begin to strike up a friendship which leads them to meeting the not-so-wonderful Wizard together. Elphaba justifiably begins to fight the Wizard’s regimes and she becomes ‘Wicked,’ to the townspeople. Glinda steps in as a public figure, and becomes The Good Witch whilst Elphaba is forever seen as ‘Wicked’ despite her good intentions. Their friendship ends in the penultimate song ‘For Good’ where these two thoroughly gifted actresses truly moved us, their chemistry onstage is palpable.
Visually the musical is magical, at the top of the arch of the stage sits the iconic mechanical dragon, who comes to life whenever Elphaba uses her powers. On each side are elaborate winding staircases and there are eccentric and colorful costumes – there is always something to feast your eyes on. It truly is a very heartwarming story, and is something perfect to ignite that magical feeling as we approach Halloween and Christmas.
In this strange mix of medieval pageant and modern morality play John Heffernan’s engagingly plays a foppish St George, rescuing his lady, the feisty Elsa (Amaka Okafor) from a deliciously dastardly dragon, played by Julian Beach like a villain in a melodrama, in three time periods.