Still Spellbinding A Decade On

Wicked has everything a great musical should have - deep themes, an extremely clever storyline, tunes that stay with you more consistently than doggy doo doo on the shoe shoe, and a great cast!

Taken together you will hum your way home and drive everyone crazy with loop style repetition of 'Popular' or 'Defying Gravity', and most likely queue for a second dose of this magical musical or, in my case, complete the hat trick; forgive the pun!

It opened on Broadway in 2003 and London's West End three years later, celebrating its decade in the Big Smoke in September this year. And, as one of only three Broadway shows in history to have grossed more than $1 billion, it's fair to say that this Schwartz Holzman collaboration is already a billion-dollar babe.

This imagined fantasy centres on Oz, that wonderful place of witches, ruby slippers and talking lions, first created by novelist L. Frank Baum but, perhaps, truly popularised by Judy Garland in the blockbuster movie, The Wizard of Oz.



Often described as a prequel to Louis B Mayer's original MGM film, the story actually takes place before, simultaneously and after the familiar Oz tale. As Gregory Maguire, the novelist who inspired the musical with his book, 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' says, this is a 're-imagining of the same world.'

And what a spellbinding treat, as enjoyable for me as when I first saw it on Broadway all those years ago.

But, like a rich tapestry, Wicked really does reveal more of itself with every viewing. At one level it is a musical treat with two of the best female lead roles on the stage today. In the past it might have been 'never off the stage' Charity in Sweet Charity, but now the theatrical youngsters of tomorrow will be queuing up to play Glinda the good witch and Elphaba the bad 'un!

Legally blonde look, cum sound alike, Carly Anderson as Glinda and Jacqueline Hughes as Elphaba were wonderful, great, accomplished performers, who worked hard to re-produce the original templated parts created by Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel on Broadway, albeit with their own theatrical stamp.

And that so often is the challenge because people want to see what they want to see. A great musical - and its characterisations - will stand in their own right but it is a brave director who moves any re-work too far from the original. Wicked didn't but why would anyone change a billion dollar winning formula?

It tells the story of an extraordinary friendship between two very different individuals who first meet as sorcery students - somewhat topical don't you think? (ask Harry P) - one is beautiful and perfect, the other is also beautiful but green; all over! She eventually becomes the baddie.

And that's what I love about Wicked because this well crafted story gives the audience a great explanation. It is not twee and woolly like so many 'musicals' from the past, built on poor story lines designed simply to carry the wonderful music. It is solid at all four corners.



Featuring themes of isolation, loneliness, revenge and reconciliation, it explains what happens when we take dangerous paths which, perhaps, should never have been tread in the first place.

A great storyline with great music, wonderful characterisation and colour, lighting and costumes to die for, this imagined tale of magic and mayhem will bring your dulled senses to life and take you to a land of fantasy where you can re-visit your childhood and remember that magic really does exist!

Go before this Wicked musical leaves our shores for its international tour to Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.

Bradford Alhambra
Until August 21st