Wicked

Wicked
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum
Director: Jon M. Chu
Scriptwriters: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox (based on “Wicked” by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holtman and “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire
Composer: John Powell (score) and Stephen Schwartz (score and songs)
Cinematography: Alice Brooks
Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Running Length: 160 Minutes

Where to begin? Frank Baum wrote the original novel in 1900, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” The film in the late 1930’s was up against “Gone With The Wind” for an Academy Award. Fast forward to making the book into a musical called “Wicked” which took Broadway by storm (excuse the pun) and made stars of Idina Menzel (“Elphaba” and later “Wicked Witch”) and Kristin Chenoweth (“Glinda.”) Composer Stephen Swartz’s songs, “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” were musical hits. “Wicked” won three Tony Awards and is the 4th longest-running Broadway show in history with over 7500 shows and ran for over 20 years.

The storyline here begins after the Wicked Witch of the West (real name, Elphaba) is killed. when a house falls on her. Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande-Butera) begins to tell the story to the people of Munchkinland. It begins with a young girl with green skin (here played by Karis Musongole) who is seen to have special powers and sent to Shiz University for further classes. She arrives at the school with her young sister, Nessa (Marissa Bode) who is in a wheelchair. In real life, Bode actually uses a wheelchair. Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeon) is the headmistress who sees the power Elphaba has and makes sure the girl and Galinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) share a room. Among the people at the school is a talking goat, Dr. Dillamond (voice of Peter Dinklage) who tells Elphaba that the talking animals are losing their voices. He is gone and Professor Nikidik (Colon Michael Carmichael) takes his place. Soon, Madame Morrible tells Elphaba that the Wizard, himself, want to meet her when he finds out about her special powers. The adult Elphaba (Cythina Erivo from “The Color Purple”). From here on in, there are monkey guards with wings, a spell book and Glinda and Elphaba find themselves in trouble. What to do?

There is music to aid the plot, of course, and this includes “Dancing Through Life,” “Popular” and the famous “Defying Gravity.” The audience is usually humming along by this time. There is so much going on in this film that it may take two turns at the box office to get it all, and remember Part Two will be released in a year. The reasoning here is building the characters personalities and their friendship with other species (goats, for example). At a running length of 160 minutes, there is a great deal for the audience to comprehend, especially, if you have read the book “Wizard of Oz” many times through and now find a slightly different plot to explore. Actually, the film seems padded as though to give everyone a few seconds of screen time. This shows. Imagine, in years to come, sitting through Acts One and Two in a movie theater. 320 minutes of popcorn and soda. Mind-boggling.

Acting is well done, though Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba is more noticeable than Ariana’s “Glinda”, because of her green film skin. Both actresses have beautiful voices, and Ariana is the one who can hit the high notes. Now for side characters and watch for Michelle Yeoh (she sings here, too), Marissa Bode’s “Nessarose” and Jeff Goldblum as “The Wizard.” Marissa Bode doesn’t get that much screen time and when it is Jeff Goldblum’s turn, he can steal a scene.. Costume and set design are very good and the audience will join right into this land of Oz. Did you think Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth would escape being in this film? Guess again…. see if you can find them.

All in all, “Wicked” as a film, does go on and, on a bit, and there is so much dazzlement there, your eyes may be weary. In talking about “Wicked,” I always come back to the song “Defying Gravity.” You defy it and fly away to what your heart desires and in this case, it is a comfortable theater seat and popcorn.

Three Tocks
Copyright 2024 Marie Asner