Travel to the land of Oz in WICKED

Theater:  Academy of Music
Show Name:  WICKED
Opening Date:  July 12, 2007
Closing Date:  September 9, 2007
Date Attended:  September 8, 2007
Reviewer Name:  Tom Lamphere
Date Review Submitted to SMO:  September 9, 2007

Note:  There are many special effects, jokes, and story lines in the show.  I believe that the audience should view the show without knowing ANY of these ahead of time so, sorry, no spoilers will be found in this review!

The “Wizard of Oz” is one of the most beloved children’s stories of the past 100 years and the movie musical version of the story is one of the most popular and most viewed movies of all time.  Ask anyone what he or she knows of the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy, Scarecrow and the rest of the story’s characters and they’ll tell you the whole story from start to finish. 

It’s amazing how clear we all are on the events and characters in the story and because the movie was so well done, there’s little argument over what happens….unless you ask author Gregory Maguire.  Mr. Maguire imagined how the characters in the Wizard of Oz came to be and focused his imagination squarely on the two witches featured in the story.  The subsequent book became a best seller and was adapted into the musical “Wicked” by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and I attended a performance of the touring version of the show at the Academy of Music. 

Upon entering the theater and obtaining a Playbill, you could sense electricity and excitement in the air.  Some of this excitement was tampered when I noticed several audience members remarking that the part of Elphaba (otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West) would be played at this performance by the “Standby” actress for the role.  When I explained to someone that, in theater, this means that the actress who normally plays the role would not be performing, I could see the “Uh-Oh” look on their face.  I quickly opened my program and noted that the actress performing the role was none other than Coleen Sexton.  I’ve seen Ms. Sexton on Broadway as Lucy Harris in “Jekyll & Hyde” and I knew we were in for a great performance!

The show began right on time and within two minutes the audience was swept away to the Land of Oz! The Wicked Witch of the West has been killed and the townspeople of Oz are celebrating when  Glinda, the Good Witch of the North “appears”.  When asked if the Wicked Witch is dead, Glinda doesn’t hesitate and says, yes, she is dead.  The follow up question from another Ozian (as they are called) asks if it’s true that Glinda friends with the Wicked Witch.  Glinda hesitates and then confesses, that yes they were indeed acquaintances and that it all started many, many years ago.  The story then becomes a re-telling of the origin of the Wicked Witch from birth through high school and into adulthood.  Without spoiling any of the story plot, all I can say is what a wild and imaginative story it is!

The two main characters in the show are Elphaba, the green skinned witch and Glinda, the perky, popular, and spoiled blonde.  Despite being a standby in the role of Elphaba, Coleen Sexton proved that she could easily have been cast in the role full-time!!  She displayed an impressive vocal range and, although not quite as powerful as the original Broadway Elphaba (Idina Menzel), she brought tremendous passion to the role singing every note as if it were her last and acting up a storm.

Playing opposite Ms. Sexton was Christina DeCicco in the role of Glinda.  This petite and perky actress provided her character with not only a beautiful voice but an enormous amount of energy as well!  Half the fun I had at the show was watching Ms. DeCicco put everything she had into the role and making it seem like she was having the time of her life!!

Filling out the cast were Deedee Magno Hall as Elphaba’s sister Nessarose, Brad Weinstock as the munchkin Boq, Barbara Tirrell as Madame Morrible, Cliffton Hall as Fiyero, Tom Flynn as Doctor Dillamond and P.J. Benjamin as the Wizard of Oz.  All of these actors were convincing in their roles and brought energy to the stage.  Broadway vets Barbara Tirrell and P.J. Benjamin were especially good in their respective roles.

The chorus members who played monkeys, students, citizens of Oz, palace guards, etc., were remarkable in their ability to not only sing and dance, but to make the transformations so effortlessly.  It has been said that a show is only as good as it’s chorus and fortunately for “Wicked”, this chorus is top notch!!

The land of Oz was a wonderful place to escape to in your childhood.  Thanks to this absolutely energizing production, “Wicked” lets you escape once again and learn a whole lot more about those characters who you only THOUGHT you knew well. 

Unfortunately, this production is now closed and is moving on to Boston.  However, you can still grab your broomstick and fly to New York City to catch “Wicked” on Broadway for a thoroughly satisfying theatrical experience!  I promise you that you won't be disappointed!!

Tom Lamphere