That's where "Wicked" comes in.
Based on the best selling novel by Gregory Maguire, "Wicked" made its Broadway debut in 2003 and quickly became a smash hit, garnering three Tony Awards (including the coveted Best Musical award). It also gained a lot of critical acclaim, and has been heralded as one of the best Broadway musicals in a very long time. With its national and international touring companies included, "Wicked" has been seen by over 30 million people around the world.
"Wicked" is sort-of like a prequel to the Wizard of Oz. It begins at the point where the 1939 movie ends ... when the Wicked Witch of the West meets her demise thanks to some water that was thrown at her by Dorothy. Glinda, the Good Witch of the East, meets up with a group of Munchkins afterwards, and explains to them the unlikely friendship between her and Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West. The show then flashbacks to the first day at Shizz Academy, where Glinda (whose actual name is "Galinda") is a new student, and Elphaba is there to watch out for her wheelchair-bound sister Nessarose, by request of their father, who is the current governor of Munchkinland. However, Elphaba is different from the rest of the students at the school; she was born with emerald green skin, which makes her an object of fear and derision amongst her fellow students. Somehow, by accident, Galinda agrees to be her roommate. Through her bubbly optimism, she teaches Elphaba that she too is a beautiful person, and she can be popular in her own right.
Elphaba has her own ambition, which is to meet the venerable Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, and learn to use her unusual powers in a positive manner. But somehow, through a misunderstanding during that audience with the Wizard, strange forces turn Elphaba's intentions into evil, and transforms herself into the Wicked Witch of the West.
"Wicked" overall is a magical theatrical experience. The sets are visually dazzling and looks like they come alive from the pages of Maguire's (and Baum's) novels. And for mavens of the Oz movie, you get to see the unlikely origins of many of the elements of Oz, from the flying monkeys, to why the Wicked Witch wears her pointy black hat, to the beginnings of such characters as the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. As well, it gives a moral lesson to the age-old expression "opposites attract", the power of friendship and how not to judge others by their outward appearances.
The performances by the entire cast are strong, especially the two leads Christine Dwyer (Elphaba) and Jeanna De Waal (Galinda), who use the right amount of humour and drama to express the message that "Wicked" effectively conveys (which is why -- understandably -- they received a loud, thunderous ovation during the curtain call). And for the two showstopper musical numbers; "Defying Gravity" will leave you amazed, and "For Good" will leave you in tears.
After seeing "Wicked", I can easily understand what the excitement was all about for this genuine Broadway blockbuster. It certainly defines the new face of American musical theatre, and a offers an entertaining, bewitching night in that wonderful land they call Oz.
And for those who want to catch "Wicked" during the remainder of its run at Place des Arts until August 26, take note. A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for the production. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Place des Arts box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each (to be paid in cash only). This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.
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