On Broadway, Wicked is making waves and astonishing the typically tough crowds. The recipient of a number of standing ovations, Wicked, the Musical is an entertaining and inventive tale of what happened in Oz before Dorothy ever arrived. For those who love alternative stories or lovers of the Wizard of Oz, this show is a must. It answers all of those burning questions that you might have been asking when watching the original for the first time. Why is the Witch so wicked? Why are those blasted monkeys flying around? What is this Oz place all about anyway? In answering these questions and more, the musical is good-hearted and captivating.
Wicked succeeds on many levels, making it difficult to identify one central part that stands out. In addition to the obviously entertaining idea behind the musical, Wicked is held up by wonderful performances from a handful of emerging Broadway names. Colleen Sexton does well in her role as Elphaba. As Glinda, Christina DiCicco provides a one of a kind type of performance. Cliffton Hall succeeds with his significant vocal range in his role as Fiyero. It is worth noting, of course, that the entire cast shines vocally, as this show ranks among Broadway's best sounding musicals.
Wicked differentiates itself from many musicals in its sense of humor. Both with delivery and the clever nature of the screenplay, the show keeps the audience laughing throughout. For those people who truly fell in love with Oz the first time around, this show is a must for unlocking those long-burning questions. For those who simply love good theater and the quality typical of Broadway productions, this is a show that will not disappoint. It has everything that a good musical should have, from the quality of its production to the inventiveness of its actors. The characters bring Oz to life in tell the untold tale of the Wicked Witch of the West.
