Wicked; The Musical
The Gershwin Theatre, New York City
Synopsis:
WICKED tells the story of two girls who first meet at Shiz University. The blonde and very popular Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke) and a misunderstood green-skinned girl, Elphaba (Teal Wicks) are assigned as room-mates, yet are as different as good and evil. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their friendship takes them on very different paths boasting adventure, uprising, and heartache. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, animals and to those around her, result in surprising consequences.
Starring Teal Wicks, Katie Rose Clarke, and Richard H. Blake
Directed by father and son team; James M. Nederlander and James I. Nederlander
Presented by Universal, Marc Platt, The Araca Group, and Jon B. Platt , Book by Winne Holtzman, Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
Genre: Musical Drama Debut: 2003
Genre: Musical Drama Debut: 2003
On an eerie New York City summer night last week, an all too appropriate thunderstorm, boasting wind, torrential rain, and lightening created the magical scene outdoors. The mood was set, naturally, for the multi-award winning Broadway show, once again. WICKED.
The Gershwin Theatre in New York City has been home to WICKED since 2003. The stage is adorned in dark musty draperies, and a huge dragon with beady bright eyes and a moving head, who stares menacingly towards the crowd. The drab framework contrasts perfectly with the bright green scenes in Oz later in the show, and blends nicely with the darker, more sombre acts. In addition to the phenomenal voices, the special effects are exciting, unpredictable, and yes, magical.
The story highlighted many themes, explaining much of the preamble to the Wizard of Oz story but it "expelled" so much more. Secrets entwined unravel carefully revealing the answers to some long-standing questions about the Wizard of Oz. Mysteries, such as how did the Scarecrow come to be, how do the castle-monkeys fly, and why is G(a)linda so perpetually upbeat? Struggles such as sibling rivalry, disabilities, infidelity, coming of age, the quest for true love, deception, and the perpetual life battles between good and evil fuel the plot at an intriguing pace.
The show does have some frightening acts, therefore the content is not suitable for children under eight years old. Also, the line-up for washrooms at intermission was insurmountable, so, easy on the beverages prior to attending, or you could be floating back to your seat!
There is a surprising emotional punch to the story, highlighting the difficulties coping as an outsider in society. WICKED displays it's talent, touching voices, and creativity, confirming this musical as a consistent triumphant work of humour, drama, music, and imagination.
This exceptional production also had successful runs at the Canon Theatre in Toronto, in 2005, 2006 and 2010. WICKED has accomplished over forty awards thus far, including 3 Tony awards, 1 Grammy, 5 Theatregoer's Choice awards, and 8 WhatsonStage.com Awards. When venturing to Manhattan, and considering a Broadway show, book your WICKED tickets in advance. This show, still, is always sold out!