Everyone deserves a chance to fly!– Elphaba in “Defying Gravity”, WICKED The MusicalWhen I read at showbizasia.com that the Wicked Witch of the West is singing a spell and landing her gravity-defying broomstick in Singapore, specifically The Grand Theater of Marina Bay Sands, I knew that I have got to fly and witness this magical show. Having seen the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” when I was younger, I was particularly curious to know, “What made you so wicked, Wicked Witch?” Are you as green as they say? And did you really have to fight Dorothy from Kansas over, what, red shoes?
It is said that so much has happened before Dorothy and her little dog Toto dropped in the Land of Oz. Thanks to Base Entertainment Asia (also the producers of The Lion King Musical in Singapore), the multi award-winning WICKED -- hailed as the “Best Musical of the Decade” after its successful run on Broadway, in North America, London, Germany, Japan and Australia – finally finds its way in Southeast Asia to tell us the untold story of the Witches of Oz.
“Where I'm from, we believe in all sorts of things that aren't true... we call it history.”― Wizard of Oz, WICKED The Musical
Have you ever wondered about the origins of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion from “The Wizard of OZ”? Was it an accident that Dorothy and Toto were sent to the Land of Oz through a tornado? Only the witches can tell.
Based on the Gregory Maguire 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West”, WICKED The Musical offers a fresh take on Oz’s history and the nature of good and evil with a parallel story told from the perspective of the witches in The Wizard of Oz. It is said that long before Dorothy and her friends stepped on the Yellow Brick Road, two opposite girls met at Oz’s elite Shiz University and became friends: Elphaba-- the smart, fiery, outcast with emerald-green skin, and Galinda (later Glinda)-- the beautiful, ambitious and popular blonde. WICKED tells the story of their unlikely friendship and how their characters led them to completely different destinies — Elphaba grew to become the notorious Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North -- while struggling through opposing personalities, rivalry over the same love-interest, and different political views.
“I am wonderful... they call me wonderful, so I am wonderful!”-Wizard of Oz, WICKED The Musical
The moment I was seated on Marina Bay Sands’ plush Grand Theater seat, I was spellbound. Who wouldn’t be with WICKED’s flying monkeys, giant mechanical dragon, a blonde floating in a cloud of bubbles, and a green witch defying gravity? Boasting of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony awards, WICKED The Musical enchants with its original storyline, outstanding sets and costumes and exceptional all-Australian cast for this Singapore production.
Consider these wicked numbers: there are 350 costumes and 69 wigs for all 34 cast members on stage per show; Glinda’s bubble dress alone weighs 20kg (a kilo more and she has to pay the Bubble Air surcharge); you can count 111 windows in the Shiz backdrop that lights up; and Wicked has 54 scenes and locations, plus stunning flying effects. Still leaves me breathless just thinking about it.
“You have been Galindafied!”-Fiyero to Elphaba, WICKED The Musical
Apart from the awesomeness of its sets, fun choreography and unforgettable music, for me, the best part of the show is its amazing, laugh-out-loud dialogue and lyrics- so witty and irreverent! Adapted by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt), the musical tickles your mind with lines like: “Okay let's get this over with—No I'm not seasick, Yes I've always been green, No I didn't eat grass as a child” by the defiant Elphaba; and "Bright? She's phosphorescent! I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow" by the perky Galinda.
Here’s more:
“Glinda: It's good to see me, isn't it? No need to answer, that was rhetorical."
“Galinda: ...Oh I know! Let’s tell each other something we've never told anyone...I'll go first: Fiyero and I are going to be married! (squeals)
Elphaba: Really? He's asked you already?
Galinda: No, he doesn’t know yet.”
“Madame Morrible: You must be Nessarose, what a tragically beautiful face. And where is- [Turns to Elphaba and screams]
Elphaba: I'm the other daughter, Elphaba. I'm beautifully tragic.”
Lead actresses Jemma Rix (Elphaba) and Suzie Mathers (Galinda, later Glinda) are simply hilarious as they sprinkle magic on stage playing out their roles in perfect tandem.
"Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise, but you've got me seeing through different eyes." -Fiyero in "As Long as You're Mine", WICKED The Musical
WICKED The Musical in its entirety makes you laugh, cry… and think. As the musical opens, a girl in the crowd asks, “Glinda, why does wickedness happen?" Glinda answers, “That's a good question. One that many people find ‘confusifying’: Are people born Wicked? Or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them?”
What does it really mean to be "Wicked"? Is it about failing to do “good”? Are good intentions with bad results the same as bad intentions with bad results? Would you consider ‘wicked’ living the unexamined life or those with a mindless, cavalier “Dancing through Life” approach like Fiyero the Prince? Is it true what the song says, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”? Are we really seeking good or just seeking attention?
WICKED The Musical explores the concept that Elphaba is a misunderstood, victimized girl whose fiery protests against the charlatan Wizard's corrupt government earned her the title “Wicked Witch of the West”. Of course it didn’t help that her skin color was green. On the other hand, Glinda the Good Witch proves that you really cannot be “Popular” without being scheming and shrewd.With this, we realize that no one is totally wicked or totally good. Wickedness, then, is a matter of perspective. The Wizard aptly sings it: “A man is called a traitor or liberator; a rich man’s a thief or philanthropist. Is one a crusader or ruthless invader? Depends on which label is able to persist.”
WICKED The Musical addresses complex themes such as standards of beauty and morality. It allows us to see that friendship knows no barriers. Be it from the wicked or the good, there are lessons to be learned. We find that “there’s always blame to share” and whether you’re good or bad, bad and great things still happen to you. In the end, even the Wicked finds love.”Thank goodness!”
Ever since the original production of Wicked premiered on Broadway in 2003, starring Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda (you may have seen them on TV as guest performers in GLEE), I have dreamed of flying to see the Wicked Witch. It took 8 good years for this perfect journey to come through. To the WICKED, I sing this with Elphaba and Glinda in finale, “Who can say if I have been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
WICKED The Musical continues to play at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater in Singapore till February 26, 2012. Go watch it, lah! Definitely worth defying gravity for.
--SunStar Weekend, January 7, 2012
*Photos courtesy of http://wickedthemusical.com.sg
