Wicked the Musical
opened on Broadway in 2003 and since then has opened productions in Chicago, Los
Angeles, Australia, Germany, Japan and London. The London production opened in
2006 and has been going strong ever since. The show has been through multiple
cast changes and I recently went to see it on 22ndApril
2011.
The show takes place before Dorothy arrived in Oz, following the story
of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and Glinda. It's about the
relationship that the girls share with a love triangle, a controversy with the
Wizard and the story of the Wicked Witch of The East. The show also explains why
the Tin Man has no Heart, why the lion is cowardly and why the scarecrow has no
brain.Its providing something that everyone can relate to, it reaches out to
almost every audience member which is a very rare thing to find in a
Musical.
The design team on
this show are a dream; Eugene Lee's set is incredible to look at and fits
perfectly into the show, as does Susan Hilferty's delightful and imaginative
costumes. Stephen Schwartz's
score is incredible. The stunning 11 O'clock numbers are to spare in this show;
Defying Gravity, No Good Deed and Thank Goodness are
the musical and emotional highlights in the show, each one expressing amazing
emotion from the characters.
Rachel Tucker was a
stunning Elphaba, she knows exactly what the character is and she really
understood her as a person.Mark Evans and Clive
Carter, I feel, are the best Fiyero and Wizard that have been cast in London.
Zoe Rainey was a good Nessarose, a weak younger character, but a fabulous older
Nessarose. Julian Forsyth is usually a great Doctor Dillimond, but for some
reason lacked in energy.
Julie Legrand is way to pantomime as Madame
Morrible for me and no character development. Ben Scott and Louise Dearman where
not in on this performance so in the roles of Boq and Glinda we got Thomas
Sutcliffe and Chloe Taylor.Thomas was a cute,
innocent Boq and at times I just wanted to jump on stage and give him a hug!
Chloe Taylor had big shoes to fill as Louise Dearman, in my opinion, is exactly
what Glinda should be. But I really don't like it when people compare actors, so
I went in with an open mind. C
hloe gave it her all as Glinda and her energy in
the role was fantastic, but her younger Glinda didn't really feel right, neither
did her older Glinda. I kind of feel like she needs to grow into the character a
little bit more. The show itself is brilliant, visually stunning and the score
is beautiful.
The story is told well however it could get a little confusing if
you do not pay attention which could be a problem for small
children.It's a theatre must
see, and should be at the top of everyone's list. Go see this show!
Rating:
****
Wicked is currently
playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
