Karma Blog

Wicked, officially tagged the untold story of the witches of Oz, is claimed a must-watch by contemporary reviewers and audiences alike. 

Based on the widely popular novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is a musical adapted from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and revolves primarily around the witches from the land of Oz. Wicked narrates the story of Elphaba, the green-skinned witch (later to become the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda/Glinda, the good witch of the North. The musical is related to the struggles that the two witches face within their friendship; battling for the same love interest, the complexities faced within their friendship due to differing tendencies, and ultimately, a choice between seeking their own satisfaction, or the happiness of their friend.  

The original musical debut of Wicked in 2003 on Broadway earned accolades for the two protagonist witches, played by Idina Menzel (Elphaba) and Christin Chenoweth (Galinda). Menzel won a Tony award and Chenoweth became an overnight Broadway star.  The current performers, Donna Vivino and Katie Rose Clarke, who play Elphaba and Galinda respectively, have wasted no time in stepping up to the high standards set for them by the original players.  

For an incredibly complex and multi-faceted character, Vivino portrays the role of Elphaba with terrific aplomb. Her experience on Broadway dates back to when she was merely eight years old, thus making her a worthy candidate to breathe life into Elphaba’s persona. Clarke has been dubbed the perfect Galinda, adding just the right amount of sass, vivacity and melodrama to her character. The final duet involving the two leads, ‘For Good’, is claimed to be one of the most beautiful and sensitive moments of Wicked. 

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Kerry Ellis (Elphaba) and Dianne Pilkington (Galinda) take on the protagonist roles in London’s West End, and are also attracting rave reviews for their powerful portrayals in the musical.    

Initially, Wicked opened to mixed responses from critics but the courageous and spectacular expertise of the whole production and appreciation from audiences has made it an indisputably successful venture. This box office breaking hit musical has incited the production to spread through Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Tokyo, Stuttgart, Melbourne and tours over North America and Canada. The show won 3 Tony Awards for Best Actress, Costume Design and Scenic Design, and also secured 6 Drama Desk Awards. Contemporary television shows, such as Ugly Betty and The Office, have even bore reference to the musical, thereby illustrating its widespread influence over popular culture.   

To sum up, Wicked is a first-rate Broadway production that has won millions of hearts worldwide. The execution and scale of the musical has provided wholesome entertainment in all departments; from acting to music to lighting, and even to the fine chemistry between the gifted cast.