A Tony-award winning musical based on the 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: Part 1 offers a fantastical reimagining of the “Wizard of Oz.” Written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, directed by Jon M. Chu, and starring renowned talents such as Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh, the musical embarks on a thrilling and heartfelt adventure back to tell the untold story of two of the most iconic characters in literary history: The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
The musical opens with the citizens of the Land of Oz rejoicing after the death of the Wicked Witch, during which Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) appears and begins to recall the past, and of how well she truly knew Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo), beginning to set the stage to further explore the question and central theme of the story: “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
As someone who has always wanted to know more about the villains in each work of literature, I found the portrayal of good vs. evil in this musical particularly interesting. In other iconics such as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, the differences between good and evil are, if not always, perfectly clear. However, this musical brings you to truly question what the definition of these loosely defined terms are. What is good, what is evil, and what really makes the two different?
Wicked highlights the flaws not only in those seen as “wicked” but instead in all: It’s clear in the emphasis on Galinda’s narcissistic drive and the Wizard’s charming deceit, and even in the way the people of Oz are willing to so easily, so carelessly exclude people they deem “different.”
It also shows the coming together of the “different” and the “normal” or “accepted,” especially portrayed when Galinda sets aside her pride to dance with Elphaba at the party hosted by Prince Fiyero (played by Jonathan Bailey). Such moments, while seeming small, are significant to the theme and development of the story, showing that the musical is more than sorcery and witches in a fictional world — it makes it feel more real, more relatable, allowing the audience to connect better with the characters.
The development of friendship between the two main characters Elphaba and Galinda (who is later referred to as Glinda) was heartwarming, though in my eyes their friendship seemed a bit too quick. Nevertheless, their friendship was a central and powerful theme throughout the movie, showing that, despite their vastly different personalities and backgrounds, forming a connection as deep as theirs is far from impossible.
As for the side characters, such as Fiyero and Madam Morrible (played by Michelle Yeoh), I wouldn’t say they were wonderfully developed — or at least, Fiyero certainly wasn’t. Since the beginning, he always seemed shallow, as though he had absolutely no personality, though that could have easily been the point of the writers. Madam Morrible wasn’t badly developed — instead, she was one of the most intriguing characters in the whole movie, someone whose story I desperately want to know more about after watching.
The world-building and visuals are also captivating, with sprawling landscapes, magical creatures, and intricate settings. Colorful and imaginative, it promises to transport the audience into the world of Oz, especially as the use of special effects and CGI blend seamlessly into the movie such as Elphaba’s flight during “Defying Gravity.”
And that brings us to what Wicked is widely popular for: its iconic songs, like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” which are sure to never be forgotten. Most did an outstanding job at capturing the feeling they were aiming to capture — “Dancing Through Life” perfectly represented a carefree approach to life, the sometimes superficial attitude students adopt during their school years, and “No One Mourns the Wicked” symbolized the societal tendency to vilify and then forget those who are different or challenging society’s expectations, and how history has the power to erase and rewrite real narratives, such as Elphaba’s.
Wicked was an enchanting, fantastical and overall wonderfully crafted story that is definitely a must-see, and I absolutely cannot wait for the second part to come out Nov. 21 of this year!
