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Our review of Wicked

Wicked is STILL Defying Gravity!

Nicola QuinnNicola Quinn, January 25th, 2018
5/5

Enchanting, Brilliant, Timeless

The performance of 'Defying Gravity' at the end of Act I will give you chills.

Fun Fact: The famed character Elphaba gets her green skin from makeup not paint! Makeup artists Craig Jessup applies Mac Cosmetics Chromacake in Landscape Green, and the look takes less than 30 minutes!

Target Audience: You can't go wrong with Wicked, a perfect adventure for the whole family! And girls, this a wonderful way to celebrate with your witches - Go paint the town, GREEN!

Best Bit: Jackie Burns (Elphaba) singing "I'm Not That Girl" and Amanda Jane Cooper (Glinda) performing "Popular" - they are both tremendous!

Morning After Effect: Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's cleverly crafted musical Wicked offers a poignant lesson accessible to all ages.

Since inception, Wicked has been defying gravity! The new musical premiered on Broadway in 2003 to mixed reviews, including a scathing review by Ben Brantley who praised Kristin Chenoweth for her performance as Glinda the Good Witch, while slating Idina Menzel as Elphaba. Needless to say, Menzel went on to win a Tony the following year for Best Lead Actress in a Musical and played the title role until 2005, followed by three months on the West End (as the highest paid actress) ... I suppose, revenge is sweet.

Wicked celebrates its FIFTEENTH year on Broadway and continues to amaze audiences. The production relies heavily on the unshakable performances of the leading ladies, and Jackie Burns (Elphaba) and Amanda Jane Cooper (Glinda) have proven that the witches' hats fit, very well indeed! These two artists are remarkable and deliver an impeccable performance. While they both teeter between wicked and wonderful, their friendship is enduring and together they are high-flyers.

If you're familiar with The Wizard Oz you will adore this production. If you are not familiar, you need to question your childhood, and watch the film immediately (or read the book by L.F Baum)! The musical Wicked was inspired by the lesser known novel published in 1995 by Gregory Maguire which reveals the happenings in Oz prior to bratty Dorothy's arrival. Before havoc ensues, we meet the witches in their college years as they form a friendship and ultimately end up fighting over a boy - oh, and for peace and equality for all in the land of Oz while questioning the reason we ostracize people who are different. Although prior knowledge of the story helps, it is by no means essential as everyone can enjoy this exploration between good and evil.

Eugene Lee's scenic design coupled with Susan Hilferty's costume artistry will have you engrossed in their magic throughout the production. Their mastery has transformed the Gershwin Theatre into a fantasyland (oftentimes frightening) with one of the most impressive sets on Broadway!

Don't be green with envy, get your tickets to see what all the fuss is about!