Wicked
Location: Apollo Victoria Theatre
Wicked is the blockbuster musical that has been taking audiences by storm on both sides of the Atlantic. It is an intriguing prequel story to the famous L Frank Baum novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and of course the hit film starring Judy Garland.
It has been running at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in the heart of London since September 2006 following a sell out Broadway production. It’s no wonder it sold out, after all everyone wants to revisit the world seen in The Wizard of Oz, and with Wicked audiences can learn about the events that led to the famous rivalry between the two witches of Oz. Such was the desire to witness this tale that critical acclaim and audience delight soon led to the New York Times calling it “Broadway’s Biggest Blockbuster”. Soon after, a tour was set in motion of both the United States and Canada, before productions starting springing up in countries all around the world.
Wicked introduces to an Oz way before the time that Dorothy arrived, when the events of that story were a long way away. Two unlikely friends at this time are about to lay to foundation blocks to a highly hostile future. One of these friends is Glinda, a popular girl in school who has the good fortune to have beatiful looks as well as huge ambitions. The other is Elphaba, who has not been blessed with the same attributes as her friend Glinda; instead she has been born with green skin, with the only positive note being her high intelligence. It is from here that their story marks the transition from playground rivals to ultimate foes. They end up becoming the famous enemies that will one day make a huge impression on Dorothy in the forms of Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
As well as these characters, Wicked also features a welcome return by some family favourites, including the Wizard of Oz himself, who in 2009 is played by Sam Kelly, a veteran of the stage and television comedy.
So with Wicked, audiences are given the perfect excuse to return to the world of a yellow brick road, emerald city and much more in a production that has been stirring audience imagination for many years. Chances are it will continue to do so for many years to come.