With writer L. Frank Baum and illustrator W. W. Denslow’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz being released in 1900, the MGM film in 1939 and the Broadway musical Wicked hitting the boards in 2003, the story of the wonderful world of Oz has had an amazingly consistent run. Almost everyone has a memory of some element from the Land of Oz.
Setting the timelines of Wicked before and after the events in the film was a masterstroke and opens up the storylines substantially. We discover that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Sheridan Adams didn’t start out so wicked and that Glinda the Good (Courtney Monsma) wasn’t always so good. Even the Great Oz is given more stick as being the fraud he is.
This Australian production of Wicked is immense. Eugene Lee’s set design is spectacular and the musical elements are impressive. In every scene, there are multiple elements to focus on and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre was fully alive with song and dance. The athleticism of the cast members was also onl display, with a special mention going to the actors playing the flying monkeys.
There is a palpable energy that only the live theatre can summon up and Wicked uses this power to the point of overload. There is an intensity that will translate well to audience members of all ages. This musical supplies an optimum opportunity to introduce the little ones to the joy and adventure that can take place in the arena of live theatre.
Rob Hudson
Wicked is now playing at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane until November 24, 2024 – get your tickets now!
www.wickedthemusical.com.au
