A SOLD-out audience was treated to a spellbinding and wildly entertaining performance of the celebrated West End musical Wicked at Bradford's Alhambra on Thursday night.
Wicked reveals the decisions and events that shape the destinies of two unlikely university friends on their journey to becoming Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
The show opens with Glinda, played by Sarah O’Connor, floating across the stage and announcing “The Wicked Witch of the West is dead” - killed by a bucket of water thrown on her by Dorothy, who many of us will know after watching the famous 1939 Wizard of Oz film.
But she asks: “Are people born wicked?” before going into Elphaba’s life before that famous story.
The audience learns that Elphaba, played by Laura Pick, was born green and had a difficult early life.
Pick is wonderful at bringing out Elphaba’s vulnerabilities and the kindness in her heart as she heads off to university to look after her disabled sister Nessarose.
At the school, Elphaba meets the beautiful Glinda, who wants to be good but comes across as the selfish, popular girl who is used to getting things handed to her on a plate.
O’Connor is brilliant at playing up this personality, and her excellent voice comes out strong in the cheery but cheeky song “Popular” where she tries to ‘Glindafy’ the reluctant Elphaba.
Pick comes back with an excellent solo “I’m Not That Girl” as the mesmerising story continues to capture sympathy for the character.
Supporting characters, Boq (Jed Berry), Fiyero (Carl Man), Madame Morrible (Donna Berlin), and Nessarose (Megan Gardiner) are all excellent in their roles but Simeon Truby, who played both the Wonderful Wizard of Oz and ‘goat teacher’ Doctor Dillamondy deserves special mention.
When he took on the role of the Wizard of Oz, I found myself taken back in time as he perfectly captured the voice and mannerisms of the Wizard in the 1939 film.
It was a treat when the characters arrived in Oz as the lighting, stage effects and costumes really came to life and the “One Short Day” tune is as entertaining as it gets.
But everyone put on a showstopper with the song “Defying Gravity” as the suspended in mid-air Elphaba sent the audience into the interval with raucous applause.
As sympathies build for the ‘Wicked Witch’, I almost found myself feeling guilty and liking the ‘good’ characters in the 1939 film.
The overall storytelling and character depth across Wicked is one of the production’s strong points.
The story has a twist in the tale at the end, but future audiences watching Wicked will find the show a spellbinding treat.
Wicked runs at The Alhambra until May 19 - to check on the availability of tickets visit bradford-theatres.co.uk/whats-on/wicked
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