Wicked

The Capitol Theatre, Sydney
from September 12, 2009

Glinda being Glinda, Elphie being skeptical

A short while ago I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Wicked, currently playing at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. A Broadway musical in every sense of the term, it is astonishingly produced with amazing costumes, sets, special effects and, with one exception, performances. It almost feels too polished.

The conceit itself, as based on Gregory Maguire's novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is inspired. A revisionist spin on the Baum classic told from the point of view of the witches, it tells the story of Elphaba, the green skinned beauty later to become the not-so-evil Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba is intelligent and perceptive, but outcast as a freak because of the colour of her skin. She dreams of meeting the Wizard and “proving her worth”, with hopes that he may “de-greenify” her. That way, she may finally gain the acceptance she seeks. She attends Shiz University where she meets Glinda - the Glinda - who adheres to the vapid blond college stereotype with only her looks and popularity in mind. Despite this, she means well, and the two form an unlikely friendship.

Various complications and love triangles naturally ensue as the pair head off from college to the Emerald City, where Elphaba finds the Wizard not as honest as she had initially believed. Elphaba flees in disgust as the Wizard announces to the "Ozians" that she is a “wicked witch” and should not be trusted. Furious, Elphaba tries to convince Glinda to join her in rebellion, but she refuses. This sets them both – and Oz – on a path towards their identities in the original story.

The cleverest thing about the story is the way it is interwoven with the original plot. It's as if Victor Fleming had decided to shoot what was happening in the back corridors of the castle instead of shooting Judy Garland watching in horror at the emptying hourglass. Much of the second act covers events known to anyone who’s seen the famous film version, as we learn, for instance, how the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow became the way they were.

"You see what I have to put up with? Those damn flying monkeys..."

But the best thing about Wicked is the music, which is insanely catchy and surprisingly complex. Showstoppers include Glinda's "Popular", in which she attempts to rid Elphaba of her more unique qualities, the act one finale "Defying Gravity" and the pop ballad, "For Good". The music by veteran Stephen Schwartz sticks closely to the mainstream Broadway idiom, but admirably uses the Wagnearian leitmotif to creative effect. A few motifs reoccur throughout, appearing differently each time according to the mood of the scene. The opening dramatic chords, foretelling the darkness to come, for instance, reappear in a more mellow form in the love ballad. The most recognisable is the "Unlimited/I'm limited" theme that represents Elphaba’s dreams and aspirations. This motif cleverly uses the the first seven notes of “Over the Rainbow” disguised with different timing and chords. To be sure, this leitmotif approach isn’t groundbreaking, but it gives the music a little more texture and coherence closer to an opera or film score than your average pop-musical.

The performances of the Sydney cast were exceptional, with Jemma Rix's (as Elphaba) vocal strengths particularly evident in the difficult act one finale. The one exception was Bert Newton, who took over the role of the Wizard from Rob Guest following his death. Straining credibility in both acting and vocal ability, he's the only weak link in an otherwise phenomenally polished production. Thankfully, at least, his character does not garner a lot of stage time.

That the drama of Wicked is a little unfocused and sometimes gets overwhelmed by the spectacle is just a reflection of the type of show it is: a grand, exciting and emotional piece of Broadway entertainment. I can't wait to see it again, and I can't wait to see what they do with the film adaptation when it rolls around in a few years time.