Though in the past “Wicked” has received mixed reviews, the musical boasts an excellent reputation by word of mouth. I had heard that it was one of the greatest musicals of all time, knew it had won over 20 major awards including a three Tony’s and a Grammy, and had even heard the entire score before seeing the show. I finally had a chance to see the renowned musical hit, presented by Broadway Across America-Atlanta and the Atlanta Broadway Series, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Midtown on Friday. I fell in love.
The show is completely magical, amazing and utterly remarkable. I was completely engaged the entire way through and even caught myself leaning forward from my balcony seat so I could be enchanted even more by the drama. It is not a show just for girls either. I noticed many men being more than just escorts for their wives and girlfriends; they were laughing along with the witty banter exchanged by the characters just as everyone else was.
The Fox is the perfect venue for such a show because the entire ambiance of this theatre is magical as well. The glittering blue “sky” above the stage gives the theatre a romantic, magical and regal atmosphere, perfect for viewing such a show as “Wicked.”
“Wicked” tells the story of the witches of Oz mostly before Dorothy arrives via cyclone. You learn how Glinda became so good and how Elphelba became the Wicked Witch of the West. I didn’t know going into the show that I would come out understanding how the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion came to exist as well. I loved how the script referred back to The Wizard of Oz several times during the show. It was great to remember parts of that story that I may have forgotten.
Throughout the show, Glinda (Katie Rose Clarke) is absolutely hysterical. When she is introduced, you may find her to be vain and superficial, and yet she still is charming and extremely humorous. At first I thought that I may not like her character but as the show progressed, I found that she is not all she seems. The “Popular” scene is one of my favorites because this is when she begins her transformation just as she is transforming Elphelba with a makeover. You cannot help but laugh out loud during this scene while Glinda bounds around the stage and of course at her patented hair toss.
Elphelba’s (Carmen Cusak) cynical and dry humor perfectly matches Glinda’s bubbly personality. She has been deemed an outcast by not only society but by her father as well because, well, she is green. You can instantly see she has built a wall and tries not to care about the cruelty often projected towards her. The turning point in Elphelba’s life is when Glinda decides to befriend her, which begins their journey through goodness and wickedness.
The show has many layers, the most obvious being the magical and enchanted world of Oz. You see a love triangle between the two witches and Fiyero (Cliffton Hall), the crooked wizard (Lenny Wolpe), and the difficult relationship between two sisters, Elphelba and Nessarose (Deedee Magno Hall). That only just scratches the surface of the show, which has been said to be the most political musical of the era. Not only do we see moments of questionable human rights, but also animal rights and a corrupt government.
The superb acting, outstanding orchestra, stunning costumes and amazing script can only produce an A+ performance in my books. No one has an excuse to not see this spectacular musical performance as it will be shown until November 2 at Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theatre. I even plan on seeing it a second time!
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