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Wicked is based on the novel, "The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz ("Godspell"). Although one could consider it a prequel to
The Wizard of Oz, Maguire describes it as the re-imaging of the classic story we've all grown up with. Keep in mind that Maguire's book is much darker than the musical which has been slightly trimmed and at times is quite cheery in contrast.
Once good friends but now rivals, Glinda and Elphaba confront each other |
Wicked cleverly tells the story of how the Wicked Witch of the West ascends to infamy while adding enough twists to clearly distinguish itself from all of its predecessors. Beginning with "No One Mourns the Wicked" a celebration of the witch's destruction from the original movie, the show soon flashes back to her birth where we discover she is actually the daughter of the governor of Munchkinland and named Elphaba.
Despite her pedigree, Elphaba is shunned by all because of her greenish complexion, but instead of being driven to seclusion, her resolve and ambition is strengthened. Elphaba starts out as an idealist with a natural talent for sorcery and fantasies that one day people will overlook her appearance and accept her for who she really is. She can't even imagine her dreams becoming a nightmare for the citizens of Munchkinland one day.
When Elphaba grows up she attends Shiz University where she meets and despises the popular girl Galinda, who later becomes Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. It's not until each girl finds a mutual cause in animal rights that they become friends. In the world of Oz, animals can speak and are considered members of society. The Wizard abhors this notion and has taken it upon himself to put these "animals" in their place. So Elphaba and the newly named Glinda visit Emerald City to lobby the wizard about the rights of animals. This is when the wizard realizes Elphaba, a talented witch, poses a threat to him and decides to plot against her by portraying her as a traitor and, well, wicked. The wizard subscribes to the mantra "the best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy." Ultimately the politics of Oz force Elphaba and Glinda to choose sides and part ways. Glinda opts for the propaganda-based patriotism of conformity. Elphaba chooses to be defiant and independent. Glinda is rewarded by becoming a respected public official; Elphaba, a pariah who all of OZ wants to see dead.
Wicked manages to infuse relevant satire into its dialogue that mirrors today's government with more than few subtle references to the present U.S. administration. The audience is also treated to the beginnings of the straw man, cowardly lion, tin man; and even Dorothy while mixing all the elements musicals reach for: a heartfelt story, eye-catching stage design, engaging characters, and a sense of familiarity in a story that we all adored as a child. With these qualities, Wicked could be one of those rare long-running plays Chicago's theater scene has been in need of. Everyone can relate to the idealistic green girl with a good heart who longed for love and acceptance in her life but gets a raw deal.
Theatre: Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre
Running time: 2 hours and 43 minutes including one 15 minute intermission
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