This past week I’ve conveniently had the joy of seeing the touring cast of Wicked the musical at the Millennium centre, a couple days before the release of the long-awaited film adaptation. Therefore, I will be reviewing the new film release with reference to the original. I highly recommend you take yourself to the cinema to experience the film in its entirety before reading this as it may also include some spoilers.
I’ve been a frequent theatregoer from a young age, meaning I have had the pleasure of seeing many shows. That said, nothing quite compares to Wicked, meaning that the film was a tall order with high expectations and it’s safe to say they surpassed my own. The opening scene of “No One Mourns The Wicked” has been spine-tingling the four times I’ve had the pleasure of being in the theatre audience. Seeing the opening on the big screen allowed for the audience to empathise and experience the song through a new lens entirely, as the musical feels like you’re watching a bird’s-eye account of events, whereas the film makes it as if your eyes are on the ground. Ariana Grande’s casting as Glinda is utter perfection, her first appearance is enough to prove anyone who thought differently wrong. It is evident that Grande undertook a vocal transformation in order to play the role, as Glinda sings in an operatic style for this number (and many others) which she does masterfully as well as the subtle yet brilliant acting choices she makes, conveying Glinda’s inner tug of war. It was safe to say after sobbing throughout the entirety of this number I was hooked.
Soon after, the film takes us back to a time before the “Wicked Witch” existed. Back when she was known as Elphaba Thropp. Cynthia Erivo is nothing short of exceptional in this role, she brings a depth to the character that hasn’t been seen by audiences before and has an incredible ability to resonate in an individual manner with all. A prominent example of this is the scene that takes place in the Ozdust ballroom, where Glinda has previously deceived Elphaba into wearing the iconic hat associated with the Wicked Witch and is mocked by the attendees of the ball. Erivo’s acting conveys Elphaba’s brave outer exterior in a way that we can all relate to, though Glinda sees through this, which creates a moment in which Elphaba and Glinda truly see each other. Glinda realises her error and evens the playing field by making a fool out of herself, which is when we feel Elphaba exhale, and she allows her vulnerability to shine through.
The importance of the music throughout the film must be understood also, as the songs are not only excellent and executed with the utmost perfection, but they are also imperative to the overall narrative of the film. Director John M Chu has also stated that the music was all performed live, even “Defying Gravity”. I believe this choice allowed for more connection with the audience and ultimately feels more authentic. Erivo and Grande’s vocals on their own are nothing short of enchanting and chilling, though when put together they sing as one and melt perfectly together. Though songs such as “Popular” and “One Short Day” deviate from the original, the changes work best for the film. The same applies do the other minor changes made in order to capture this world correctly. The track “Popular” allows for Grande’s effortless comedic ability to shine through, as it does throughout the film. Her natural delivery of comedy was unexpected and had the whole theatre chuckling along. “One Short Day” is a magical number for any fan of the stage musical. Fair to say, I will not spoil it but it was intensely emotional!
Standout performances are evident throughout the entirety of the film, though Jonathan Bailey’s casting as Fiyero is nothing short of magnificent. The charm, flirtatiousness, and lovable arrogance that he portrays on screen is sure to have anyone in the audience blushing. He is widely known for his role in Netflix’s Bridgerton, though I’m sure many were surprised by his phenomenal vocals and effortless dancing in “Dancing Through Life”. Charisma comes as naturally to Bailey as breathing and I was beyond blown away by his performance and hope to see him flexing his musical muscles again in the future. Other performances of note include Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once) as the cunning Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldbloom (Jurassic Park) as the wonderful Wizard of Oz. The characters respectively are revealed as prominent figures of system and hierarchy towards the closure of the film. Both actors were masterfully able to deceive the audience with charm and likability before the switch is flipped and their true natures are revealed.
John M Chu deserves all the flowers for bringing this musical to life on the big screen, the practical sets and their design, unique costuming, ensemble cast, and everything in between—to put it simply—could not have been more perfect. Loyal audiences and perhaps new audiences will fall in love with this magical world and the friendship that is the heart of the film. It’s a perfect film to watch with your friends that will have you laughing out loud, astonished, and most likely sobbing also. Though set in a world so far from our own, Wicked has an ability to resonate with audiences like no other musical. I implore you to rush to the cinema to watch this if you haven’t already, though I am sorry in advance for the cliffhanger at the end. It goes without saying this next year will be a long one waiting for Part 2, and I already feel changed for the better.