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Hit musical ‘Wicked' takes town by storm
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Reviewed by FRAN HELLER, Contributing Writer
There's a very good reason why throngs of people are pouring into the State Theatre at Playhouse Square Center.
It's called "Wicked,” the 2003 blockbuster musical that took Broadway by storm and is doing more of the same in downtown Cleveland through July 9.
Created by Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics), who gave us "Godspell” and "Pippin,” and Winnie Holzman (book), the musical tells the story of the Wizard of Oz from the witches' points of view.
The musical is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, in which the evil witch becomes the heroine. Maguire drew his inspiration from the original 1900 story by L. Frank Baum, whose initials form the name of the wicked witch Elphaba.
There is even a nod to the original story with witty references to the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, "a farm girl from Kansas,” and a visible yellow brick road.
Having seen the Broadway production with its original cast, I can vouchsafe that the road show is every bit as good and great as the former. Director Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway production, casts the same magic spell on this touring production.
The enchantment starts with Tony Award-winning set designer Eugene Lee, who transforms the cavernous stage into a gigantic time machine with moveable gears and cog wheels. A dragon's head with roving red eyes and outsized wings hovers over the proscenium.
"Wicked” has all the razzle-dazzle of technological wizardry, including flying monkeys and witches on broomsticks and bubble-blowing machines. But beyond the entertainment, it also has a story to tell about friendship, the nature of good and evil, the danger of scapegoats, and political tyranny.
A musical with bite, "Wicked” has something for everyone at every age.
The story begins with the arrival of Glinda, the good witch, who informs the citizens of Oz in the rousing opener "No One Mourns the Wicked” that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is dead. Through flashback, Glinda relates how she first meets Elphaba at college, where they are forced to become reluctant roommates.
What follows is the tale of these two witches, the superficial, narcissistic and pretty Glinda and the fiercely smart and compassionate Elphaba, whose green skin has made her an outcast. A major theme underscores the notion that appearances can be deceiving and that people are never what they seem on the surface.
Elphaba is sent to the university as caretaker for her invalid younger sister Nessarose. But when the headmistress discovers that Elphaba has magical powers, she arranges a meeting between the green girl and the wizard.
Meanwhile, all is not well in Oz, where the animals, like the goat professor Dr. Dillamond, are fast losing their freedoms, including their power of human speech.
Elphaba's heroic efforts to stop this are perceived as dangerous, and she fast becomes both scapegoat and enemy. She turns to wickedness when she learns that "no good deed goes unpunished.”
What a great cast! With her mop of blond Shirley Temple curls and Barbie doll good looks, Kendra Kassebaum is adorable as the self-centered, spoiled and ever-popular Glinda.
Julia Murney is equally fantastic as the feisty and idealistic Elphaba.
Both Elphaba and Glinda fall in love with rich playboy Fiyero, (the excellent Sebastian Arcelus), who touts his philosophy in the rousing company number "Dancing Through Life.” Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty's spectacular black-and-white costumes, coupled with Kenneth Posner's striated lighting, turn the Ozness ballroom into a visual metaphor of good and evil. Later, this immensely creative duo transforms the Emerald City of Oz into a resplendent symphony in green.
The supporting cast is as stellar as the leads: Alma Cuervo as Madame Morrible, the imperious headmistress of Shiz University; K. Todd Freedman as the kindly goat professor, Dr. Dillamond; Maria Eberline as the frustrated, wheelchair-bound Nessarose, who loves the simple-minded Boq (Kirk McDonald).
P.J. Benjamin plays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, all smokescreen and lies and the real villain in the story. "Where I come from, everyone knows that the best way to bring folks together is to give them a common enemy,” says the wizard, prophetic words for modern times.
The bad news is that the production is already sold out. The good news is the likelihood of a return visit.
There's a very good reason why throngs of people are pouring into the State Theatre at Playhouse Square Center.
It's called "Wicked,” the 2003 blockbuster musical that took Broadway by storm and is doing more of the same in downtown Cleveland through July 9.
Created by Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics), who gave us "Godspell” and "Pippin,” and Winnie Holzman (book), the musical tells the story of the Wizard of Oz from the witches' points of view.
The musical is based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, in which the evil witch becomes the heroine. Maguire drew his inspiration from the original 1900 story by L. Frank Baum, whose initials form the name of the wicked witch Elphaba.
There is even a nod to the original story with witty references to the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, "a farm girl from Kansas,” and a visible yellow brick road.
Having seen the Broadway production with its original cast, I can vouchsafe that the road show is every bit as good and great as the former. Director Joe Mantello, who directed the Broadway production, casts the same magic spell on this touring production.
The enchantment starts with Tony Award-winning set designer Eugene Lee, who transforms the cavernous stage into a gigantic time machine with moveable gears and cog wheels. A dragon's head with roving red eyes and outsized wings hovers over the proscenium.
"Wicked” has all the razzle-dazzle of technological wizardry, including flying monkeys and witches on broomsticks and bubble-blowing machines. But beyond the entertainment, it also has a story to tell about friendship, the nature of good and evil, the danger of scapegoats, and political tyranny.
A musical with bite, "Wicked” has something for everyone at every age.
The story begins with the arrival of Glinda, the good witch, who informs the citizens of Oz in the rousing opener "No One Mourns the Wicked” that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is dead. Through flashback, Glinda relates how she first meets Elphaba at college, where they are forced to become reluctant roommates.
What follows is the tale of these two witches, the superficial, narcissistic and pretty Glinda and the fiercely smart and compassionate Elphaba, whose green skin has made her an outcast. A major theme underscores the notion that appearances can be deceiving and that people are never what they seem on the surface.
Elphaba is sent to the university as caretaker for her invalid younger sister Nessarose. But when the headmistress discovers that Elphaba has magical powers, she arranges a meeting between the green girl and the wizard.
Meanwhile, all is not well in Oz, where the animals, like the goat professor Dr. Dillamond, are fast losing their freedoms, including their power of human speech.
Elphaba's heroic efforts to stop this are perceived as dangerous, and she fast becomes both scapegoat and enemy. She turns to wickedness when she learns that "no good deed goes unpunished.”
What a great cast! With her mop of blond Shirley Temple curls and Barbie doll good looks, Kendra Kassebaum is adorable as the self-centered, spoiled and ever-popular Glinda.
Julia Murney is equally fantastic as the feisty and idealistic Elphaba.
Both Elphaba and Glinda fall in love with rich playboy Fiyero, (the excellent Sebastian Arcelus), who touts his philosophy in the rousing company number "Dancing Through Life.” Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty's spectacular black-and-white costumes, coupled with Kenneth Posner's striated lighting, turn the Ozness ballroom into a visual metaphor of good and evil. Later, this immensely creative duo transforms the Emerald City of Oz into a resplendent symphony in green.
The supporting cast is as stellar as the leads: Alma Cuervo as Madame Morrible, the imperious headmistress of Shiz University; K. Todd Freedman as the kindly goat professor, Dr. Dillamond; Maria Eberline as the frustrated, wheelchair-bound Nessarose, who loves the simple-minded Boq (Kirk McDonald).
P.J. Benjamin plays The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, all smokescreen and lies and the real villain in the story. "Where I come from, everyone knows that the best way to bring folks together is to give them a common enemy,” says the wizard, prophetic words for modern times.
The bad news is that the production is already sold out. The good news is the likelihood of a return visit.
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