Wicked: A Broadway Musical Review

Broadway musicals have come and gone since the first musical, Jazz Singer made the stage with live music in 1932. Wicked opened in 2003 and has been performed in over 100 cities. I had the pleasure of experiencing Wicked in October of 2017 in the Gershwin Theater, Broadway, New York City.

Wicked is an excellent production that is entertaining for all ages. The musical retells L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the witches' perspective in the form of a Prequel drawn from an adult adaption of the novel Wicked, Gregory Maguire, 1995. The composer and lyricist is Stephen Schwartz, who has written such hit musicals as Godspell (1971) and Pippin (1972).

Unlike Baum's original novel for children, the musical tells the story of Elphaba, a girl born with green skin. She is a good girl, much like the Good Witch that we are accustomed to from the Wizard of Oz, but then comes a long transition to become Wicked through a series of unfortunate events.

The long path from good to evil did not create an intimate connection with the lead character the audiences are accustomed to in other Broadway works. For example, Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, or Sound of Music, Maria. I won't be thinking of Elphaba when I leave the theater, nor have a crush on her like I did Maria at the age of ten. But I would be glad to take out a life insurance policy on her since we know how The Wizard of Oz plays out. The audience will be asking, “What was the Wicked witches name again?”

Nevertheless, the driving action and impeccable music productions carry the entire show from the beginning to the final curtain. Wicked carries more than just a story onto the stage and delves into social and political themes, which I leave to the reader to determine for themselves the value.

The best-known song Defying Gravity lyrics illustrate the style and success of the musical score. It is primarily a solo, by the Wicked Witch of the West, with two short duets at the beginning and in the middle with her friend Glinda and the citizens of Oz at the end. This song defines the plot of the entire musical.

Elphaba, why couldn't you

Have stayed calm for once?

Instead of flying off the handle!

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy now

I hope you're happy how you've

Hurt your cause forever

I hope you think you're clever

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy, too

I hope you're proud how you

Would grovel in submission

To feed your own ambition

So though I can't imagine how

I hope you're happy right now

Elphie, listen to me, just say you're sorry!

You can still be with the wizard

What you've worked and waited for

You can have all you ever wanted

I know

But I don't want it

No, I can't want it anymore

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes and leap!

It's time to try defying gravity

I think I'll try defying gravity

And you can't pull me down

Can't I make you understand

You're having delusions of grandeur?

I'm through accepting limits

'Cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change

But 'til I try, I'll never know!

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love I guess I've lost

Well, if that's love

It comes at much too high a cost!

I'd sooner buy defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity

And you can't pull me down

Glinda, come with me

Think of what we could do, together!

Unlimited

Together, we're unlimited

Together we'll be the greatest

Team there's ever been

Glinda, dreams the way we planned 'em

If we work in tandem

There's no fight we cannot win

Just you and I, defying gravity

With you and I defying gravity

They'll never bring us down!

Well, are you coming?

I hope you're happy

Now that you're choosing this

You, too

I hope it brings you bliss

I really hope you get it

And you don't live to regret it

I hope you're happy in the end

I hope you're happy my friend

So if you care to find me

Look to the western sky!

As someone told me lately

"Everyone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who ground me

Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am defying gravity!

I'm flying high, defying gravity!

And soon, I'll match them in renown

And nobody in all of Oz

No wizard that there is or was

Is ever gonna bring me down!

I hope you're happy

Look at her! She's wicked!

Get her!

Bring me down!

No one mourns the wicked!

So we've got to bring her

Oh!

Down!

****

The cast was excellent, the musical production is professionally presented and entertaining, but don't be surprised if you leave the theater feeling that something was missing, emotion.

What was the wicked witch's name again?

I give Wicked four stars out of five. It is definitely worth the time to see this Broadway production but you can leave your tissues at home.

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