Another review of Wicked

Being a big fan of The Wizard Of Oz, right from when I was a small child, I must admit I was hesitant to see Wicked at first. I thought it was just copying Frank Baum and would ruin the tale of Oz, but one song quickly changed my mind: Defying Gravity. I heard this song early last year, and fell in love with the lyrics, the music, everything. From then on, I was eager to see the highly rated musical.
I went along in January this year, maybe still with a tiny bit of hesitance in the back of my mind, but any doubt was soon blown from my mind. Right from the opening song, ‘No One Mourns The Wicked’, the whole audience was completely captivated by the colourful outfits, brilliant dancing and amazing vocals.
Rachel Tucker as Elphaba was unbelievable, hitting the big notes with ease and putting on a truly inspiring performance. Glinda, played by Louise Dearman, was fantastic, her annoyingly girly voice perfect for the part. Mark Evans was extremely good in his part as Fiyero, being brilliantly funny with the comical lines and singing the songs fantastically. The whole cast were brilliant, putting so much energy and enthusiasm into the performance, as if it was the first time they had ever done it.
The venue; the Apollo Victoria was magnificent, and you know that you are in for something special the minute you step through the doors. First of all, the foyer is packed with stalls selling Oz T-Shirts and other colourful merchandise. There are also Elphaba necklaces, delicate little witch hats hanging from chains, and many other wonderfully interesting items. Secondly, is the atmosphere. The energy and the buzz you can feel emanating from the people around you is amazing, and will have you jumping up and down with excitement in no time. And thirdly, everything is green. Well, not everything is actually green, but the many green lights bathe the whole room in a magical green light. The place is incredible.
When you finally get into the theatre itself, it’s no less interesting. Above the stage is a huge dragon head with wings proceeding after it, staring right at you as you take your seat. Below this, on the screen concealing the stage, is perhaps the most interesting thing of all: A map of Oz. The audience are drawn to it, exploring the wonderful world, and laughing at some of the odd places. It certainly makes you feel more involved in the story; it makes it all seem so real. And, after watching the two and half hour production, you’ll wish it was.