Wicked

On April 8th my wife and I attended a matinee performance of Wicked at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, where it played for over one week.  This was a gift for each of our respective birthdays from my mother-in-law, who volunteers there as an usherette.  It was our first time seeing the show, an ingenious prequel and sequel to the beloved 1939 movie THE WIZARD OF OZ.  Since its debut on Broadway twenty years ago, it too has become a fan favorite, a musical based on Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West with a script (book) by Winnie Holzman and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. 

Wicked focuses on Elphaba (Lissa Duguzman), an unfortunate girl born with green skin who is rejected by her father.  She will suffer social awkwardness in college and eventually discover she has magical powers, later becoming said wicked witch.  The "Good Witch" is Glinda (Jennafer Newberry), who we first meet as Galinda, a perky and popular blonde who becomes Elphaba's roommate and friend.  But life choices will test and perhaps sever their friendship.  Part of that involves a rakish prince named Fiyero (Christian Thompson).  All will end up in the land of Oz and learn some disturbing things about that Wonderful Wizard (Timothy Shew).  You may get a twist or two by the finale. 

And I was surprised at how dark Wicked gets.  Kudos to the creators for avoiding saccharine and easy nostalgia.  Or over the top spectacle, which for this story would be gratuitous. But this is family friendly stuff, and even has significant subplots about animal rights.  The Second act is quite eventful, one that contrasts nicely with the comparatively calm exposition of Act I.  

The cast was terrific.  The tunes (especially "No One Mourns the Wicked" and "I'm Not That Girl") are delightful throughout the show, but maybe are not as socko as in some other Schwartz productions.  This road show version was top notch, with great stage design and of course that imposing Clock of Time dragon hovering over the stage.   Should you have the chance to catch this, I would not pass it up. 

P.S. - I've learned a film adaptation, ahem, two films are forthcoming, with Ariana Grande playing Galinda/Glinda.  You can be certain I'll take my quill to those.