Defying gravity, ‘Wicked’ soars
WICKED is the fifth-longest-running show in Broadway history and earned three Tony Awards. It has amassed over $5 billion in global sales.
And Salt Lake audiences can join the over 60 million people worldwide who enjoy the thrilling musical that includes the rousing “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good.”
Based on the “Wizard of Oz” prequel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Elphaba was born with emerald-green skin and is smart, fiery, and possesses a unique talent. When she meets Glinda, a popular blonde, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships — until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”
WICKED has the central theme of “Are people born wicked, or do we have wickedness thrust upon us?”
Though not entirely clear, Elphaba has wickedness thrust upon her, and we know the wicked have much more fun.
An exceptionally talented Lauren Samuels defines the role of Elphaba and clearly has a fun time on stage — whether it’s her yearning softly that “I’m Not That Girl” or the epic rendition of the first-act finale, belting “Defying Gravity.” No one is gonna bring her down.
Austen Danielle Bohmer is serviceable as Glinda, as she struggles initially to fully capture the bubbly persona, though her performance gains strength. Bohmer hits all the right notes and is most enjoyable with “Popular.”
Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who originated the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, are now defined by their breakout, career-defining on-stage roles, and fans and critics alike agree that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were the best choices for their on-screen representations. (Wasn’t the Tony’s opening WICKED medley an ultimate delight as performed by Grande and Erivo?)
The film had the biggest ever opening weekend for a movie adaptation of a Broadway musical (more than $160 million globally).
The stage play feels rushed now as compared to the pacing of the film, and naysayers see how the film version was correctly broken into two parts, with much of the business of Act 2 to be fully fleshed out. We must be patient as we wait for the second act of the film adaptation, “Wicked: For Good,” scheduled for November of this year.
This tour production is a well-oiled, heart-filled carbon copy of all the WICKEDs that have come before, so while nothing has been altered here, it remains polished, professional, and the two pleasurable leads and the crackerjack ensemble.
As Fiyero, Xavier McKinnon sizzles in “Dancing Through Life,” and Aymee Garcia’s Madame Morrible stands out with “Thank Goodness.”
WICKED has been captivating audiences for more than 20 years, and there’s no doubt it will keep dazzling for another 20, including at the next Salt Lake tour date.
►Eccles Theatre, through May 25.
