Theatre Review: Wicked, Celebrating 9 Years In The West End

Director: Joe Mantello

Producer: Marc Platt

Musical Director: James Draisey

Music and Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz

Starring: Emma Hatton, Carina Gillespie, Oliver Savile 

Running: Approximately 2hrs 45mins, including one interval

Theatre: Apollo Victoria Theatre, London

It’s been 20 years since Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West novel was written by Gregory Maguire, 12 years since the show adaptation hit the stage for the first time in the US, and an incredible 9 years since the Apollo Victoria Theatre was greenified, Elphaba style.  

And yet, here we are, 9 years later and I have the pleasure of seeing it on a standard autumnal evening, and the theatre is full to the brim. Even after all this time, WICKED continues to allure crowds from around the world to delight with their intricate costumes, enchanting production design, and breathtaking vocal performances that dance on the edge between being fun and energetic to operatically dramatic. 

WICKED revolves around two entirely contrasting characters: blonde and popular Galinda who has a love for anything pink and in the shape of a shoe, and glaringly green outsider Elphaba who’s more inclined to politics than fashion choices. Obviously the two clash from the get go, belting out the song What Is This Feeling? based purely on their mutual “unadulterated loathing”. The performance features an abundance of songs performed throughout, including audience favourite Defying Gravity and beautifully tender For Good, and ultimately the show offers the audience the opportunity to follow the character’s transformation from Galinda and Elphaba to Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, and the true price of unlikely friendship, freedom and love.

WICKED takes us on the alternative journey running concurrently to the original story of a young naive girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto who find themselves on a whirlwind adventure, encountering munchkins, scarecrows, flying monkeys, tin men, lions, and witches of both good and evil. In THE WIZARD OF OZ, we are rooting for Dorothy to pour that bucket of water over the Wicked Witch of the West and melt her into oblivion, but WICKED transports us back to a time before houses crushed witches and munchkins followed the yellow brick road, and the show first and foremostly teaches the audience that there is two sides to every story.

I have to say, the show gave me an entirely different perspective on Dorothy, and towards the end of WICKED Elphaba, who has Dorothy locked in her basement at this point, exclaims “I mean, who steals a dead woman’s shoes?” And she’s right. Dorothy, what were you thinking?!

Emma Hatton plays the role of isolated and misunderstood Elphaba, who cares for her disabled sister Nessa-Rose and is profoundly resented by her father, a concoction of guilt that only fuels her own lack of self-worth. In a world where physical abnormalities are frowned upon, all Elphaba craves is acceptance.

Hatton excels in the role of Elphaba, bringing perfectly timed wit and humour to her dialogue. “Alright, let’s just get this over with. No, I am not seasick. Yes, I’ve always been green. No, I didn’t eat grass as a child…” she screams in response to the glares and hisses upon her arrival at Shiz University. During her song The Wizard and I, my hairs were standing on end at the sheer emotion and intensity in which she delivered her initial solo.

Carina Gillespie (understudy to Savannah Stevenson) took on the role of spoilt and pampered princess Galinda, with her band of followers worshipping her every move, a character that most people can say they’ve probably encountered at some point in their lives. The character’s lines are delivered with such pretension, that she leaps back and forth between being absolutely hilarious and downright irritating. “I don’t see why you can’t just teach us history, instead of always harping on about the past” she retaliates at Doctor Dillamond (Sean Kearns) on the subject of curriculum.

Though it was a shame I didn’t get to see the delightful Stevenson in action, Gillespie more than made up for it, leaving her delicate stamp on such a complex character as Galinda, who comes across as overtly outgoing and yet utterly vulnerable all at once.

The ensemble moments are feverishly captivating with so many visual elements to digest, from their outlandish hairstyles right down to their marvellous outfits, designed by the talented Susan Hilferty, particularly during the scene where Elphaba and Galinda (at this point now calling herself Glinda with a silent Ga…) travel to the Emerald City, and it can only be described as a sensory overload of shimmering green. 

With a stellar cast and an undeniable reputation, I still believe the absolute key to the success of the show is the pure fact that it is unquestionably accessible. As an audience member, you don’t have to have seen or necessarily enjoyed THE WIZARD OF OZ to relish in the wonder that is WICKED. Knowing its history does enable you to participate in its cleverly placed referenced jokes, but the narrative is strong – strong enough to stand on its legs without relying on the support of THE WIZARD OF OZ. The content allows people to link their own personal connection to the story, children and adults alike.

It’s been 12 years since Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel graced the show world stage as a remarkable witch duo, and now Hatton and Stevenson show the West End that they’re here to stay and carry on the WICKED name. Whether you’d like to see the show because of the music, the costumes, or even just to see that astonishing dragon at the foot of the stage, just make sure you do, I guarantee you’ll leave feeling all warm and green inside. 

WICKED is currently booking for all performances until Saturday 5 November 2016 at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre. Prices start from £17.95 plus transaction fee, and tickets can be found at www.ATGTickets.com/Wicked

Stay tuned to Film and TV Now where we recently interviewed the incredible West End cast of WICKED – We’ll be divulging all the gossip on exactly how Emma Hatton removes all that green paint, and which stars of the stage would play Madame Morrible if they had the chance to switch roles for one night! 

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