Informal Review on Wicked Production: Musical, Melbourne, Australia, 2009
Incredible. After a year of performances in Melbourne, Australia, Wicked is still selling out. "How many times have you seen Wicked?" "7. you?" "9. I'm seeing it again this weekend. Wanna come?..."
And they plan to run it for another year.
What is it that makes Wicked so special that people of all ages must see it, and having seen it, must see it again?
I went to see Wicked, and here is what I thought...
Wicked is an enchanting story based on a fairytale known to almost everybody.
It expands on the original story of The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
It casts her in a new light as the protagonist of the musical victimised by a childhood of being bulled for the colour of her skin and the oppression of the fraudulent Wizard.
This new perspective on the original character from the Wizard of Oz appeals
to our sense of justice and makes us feel guilty for hating the Wicked Witch of the West,
who was originally the antagonist.
That, along with the nostalgia of reinventing a childhood fairytale,
is the main attraction of the plot of Wicked to the mass public.
However, a good plot that the audience can relate to is nothing on its own.
Wicked's plot is reinforced by fabulous set design, beautiful costumes,
brilliant stagecraft, and wonderful music.
The sets of Wicked are absolutely amazing.
From giant mechanical dragon and wizard to G'linda's floating bubble to the splendour
of emerald city...this production is a feast for the eyes.
The costumes in Wicked - from G'linda's many beautiful dresses,
to the subtly foreshadowing costumes of Faero and Bok to the perfectly
bland attire of Elphaba - tell the story wonderfully
The stagecraft in Wicked is brilliantly insane.
When the mutant monkeys fly out above the audience, or the dragon suddenly starts moving to the rhythms of dark,
foreboding music, the effect is stunning.
Finally, the wonderful music of Wicked is what makes this musical uniquely beautiful.
The recurring themes that bind the audience to the characters and emotions are well orchestrated,
yet the magic is in their simplicity.
The softly spoken tremolos of the high strings contrasted by the warm fretless bass and supported by,
often, very basic drum patterns create a sense of "floating on air",
especially effective in the last song of the second act, Defying Gravity.
This climactic finish to the first act of Wicked is what makes this production
a truly enchanting experience.
When Elphaba begins to fly, singing the most powerful song in the musical...
I was numbed by the shear intensity of the moment.
I had heard recordings of the musical several times,
but I was not prepared for the effect that this song had on me,
and, quite probably, the rest of the audience.
This scene is the cause of the deep desire felt by all kinds of people to see Wicked again and again.
You can't just listen to the music...you need to live the experience, and see Wicked live.
Ross Unger, Melbourne
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Wicked Production Review - Musicals, Australia, 2009
Wicked production, 2009, Melbourne. Expands on the original story of The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. It casts her in a new light as the protagonist of the musical victimised by a childhood of being bulled for the colour of her skin and the oppression of the fraudulent Wizard. Informal review on Wicked production.