Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, forges an unlikely friendship with Galinda, played by Ariana Grande.
Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, forges an unlikely friendship with Galinda, played by Ariana Grande.
The Wicked Witch of the West has a long history, created by L. Frank Baum in 1900 with his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Fast forward to 1939 and we’ve got the film adaptation of this novel, “The Wizard of Oz,” a beloved and highly anticipated movie shown on television for decades to come.
Then, in 1995, Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West which sparked the Broadway play in 2003 starring Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda. Now, over a century later since the character’s creation, we’ve got “Wicked” for the silver screen and this larger than life rendition is going to blow your ruby slippers right off your feet.
“Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and right by her side is Ariana Grande as Galinda (her name and pronunciation is a side story in and of itself). We meet Elphaba as an unwanted baby — she’s green — cared for by her nanny, a talking bear. Years pass and Elphaba accompanies her little sister Nessa (Marissa Bode) who is wheel-chair bound to boarding school. Swept up by Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Elphaba finds herself attending the Harry Potter-esque school and rooming with a reluctant Glinda.
This is the Wicked Witch of the West’s origin story. We learn about her being bullied for being different and how others treat her because of how she looks. She’s an embarrassment to her family and they never let her forget it. But now, under the wing of Madame Morrible, perhaps she will finally find her place. Of course, Glinda, the ever-popular student who is always trying to impress Madame Morrible, sets up Elphaba for failure at every turn, accompanied by her toadies ShenShen (Bronwyn James) and Pfannee (Bowen Yang). But something changes and the two, Elphaba and Galinda, become besties. Their journey together is a colorful one filled with plenty of mesmerizing songs and dances that will enchant you every step of the way.
But there’s really so much more to this story than vibrant backdrops, jaw-dropping choreography, and songs that lift your spirit. The story reminds us of what happens when we judge a book by its cover or treat others poorly. It also draws some parallel lines in today’s world of hatred but never in a way that you feel berated; just reminded.
This big screen version of the story is bound to be an instant hit and for good reason. Erivo is perfectly cast as Elphaba. Her ability to convey emotion is skillfully delivered and her voice is like no other. While she doesn’t get enough time to sing, in my opinion, she is able to show us what she’s got in the final number which will take your breath away. Of course, Grande’s voice is melodically beautiful and she gives us a Glinda we laugh with and at, as well as connect with as we watch this character grow. Together, these women find just the right beat to pull us into the story of Wicked.
The run-time is a bit long but never are you bored and theater lovers will enjoy a couple surprise cameos in the final act. The vibrant and light-hearted storyline becomes a dark one and with the longer running time, it’s not meant for the younger munchkins. It is, however, a movie you should see in theaters thanks to the sound and the visuals of it. Be swept away by this fantastical story that can be immediately relatable to anyone willing to open their eyes.
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