On Friday 24th, I went to see an evening showing of Wicked and it was simply breathtaking!
I urge everyone to see it immediately! It was magnificent. The effects, the production, the songs… everything was spectacular. I found that the original Broadway production translated perfectly to the big screen.
I was excited to see Ariana Grande playing Glinda as I hadn’t seen much of her acting work before, and she was simply fabulous. Her comedic timing and her energy dynamics were reminiscent of Kristin Chenoweth, yet she brought an entirely fresh perspective to the character. Her singing wrapped everything up perfectly. I hope to see her in more acting roles as she shows infinite promise and versatility.
Cynthia Erivo was outstanding! She provided us with a tender, caring Elphaba and evoked sympathy. Her acting perfectly encapsulated and conveyed all the underlying messages behind this spectacular musical adaptation. I found she revealed the multi-dimensional aspects of her character - Elphaba struggled throughout her childhood and was consistently ostracized. Her performance powerfully conveyed the importance of acceptance and understanding throughout life. Cynthia reflected this perfectly through her softness but passionate and powerful vocals. Her range, ability, and style contributed to Elphaba’s complexities and intricacies. Simply fabulous!
Ariana and Cynthia’s chemistry was unparalleled! I hadn’t seen anything like it! Their beautiful harmonies and gorgeous vocals created a unique and stunning blend, and I hope we see them partner for future projects again.
Growing up, my favorite film was ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) as it was ahead of its time and incredibly creative. Watching Wicked last night captured such a nostalgic ambience and managed to perfectly balance a sense of modern and contemporary theatre with the old, traditional settings and styles used in the 1939 movie. When doing some research about the film, I found out that the use of CGI was minimized throughout the film and real-life sets of Oz were being built. I loved this little fun fact as it assisted to convey the fantastical magic of Oz, such as the director Jon M Chu insisted planting 9 million tulips in Norfolk.
Jon M Chu’s direction was magical and magnificent. He should be proud that his piece of artwork united aspects of the original, Broadway version with the fresh, compelling cinema of today. I cannot wait to see the second part next year!
