Wicked

The second time round Wicked feels more comfortable in its green skin. 

All the elements which make it a terrific night of musical theatre remain. 

There is the clever book which neatly dovetails the fable of The Wizard of Oz; a spectacular set that reaches its climax at the end of the first act when Elphaba defies gravity, all set to the  universal themes of friendship and acceptance in the face of intolerance.

Survivors from the production in 2008 are Lucy Durack, still utterly gorgeous as Glinda, and Maggie Kirkpatrick formidable as Madame Morrible.

Giving it the edge over last time is the soaring performance of Jemma Rix as the green witch. How she belts out those ballads year after year during 800 performances is a wonder.

Reg Livermore as the Wizard gives the production a style and panache which Bert Newton, for all his personal charms, could not offer.

Likewise Steve Danielson as Fiyero has more music theatre credibility than Rob Mills.

It meant the entire cast was there on merit not on their personality.

Missing is the thrill of hearing glorious tunes a second time as Wicked is thin on that department.

But take nothing away from a complete night of musical theatre entertainment.

David Spicer

Stage Whispers Editor Neil Litcfield was also at opening night.

For me, Wicked is one of those special shows that just keeps revealing new facets and nuances with each repeat visit (partly due to its great book), and the Sydney opening was my fourth time - also my fourth time seeing both Lucy Durack and Maggie Kirkpatrick in their roles. Lucy Durack seems to find a finer reading of the comedy of Glinda with each viewing, while developing the journey from flightiness to inner strength more and more credibly. Maggie Kirkpatrick’s insidious Madame Morrible gets creepier, earlier, too, on repeat visits. It’s also my third time seeing Jemma Rix, and what can I say now, except for me she now is Elphaba. Reg Livermore brings all his years of showbizz panache to the show, in a thoroughly convincing and mightily entertaining interpretation of the Wizard of Oz, with a palpable dark side.

I'm compelled to add mention of the marvellous Wicked ensemble to David’s thoughts. Their constant changes of character and costume, and their versatility, energy and discipline, are, of course what we now come to expect from our outstanding Australian ensembles, always a highliht of our major musicals. But they still deserve special mention, and as we were reminded at this weekend's casting of Dirty Dancing, new triple threat stars are constantly emerging from their ranks.

The production of Wicked remains as lavish and gorgeous as ever.

And I couldn’t ask for much more of a Broadway score than favourite songs like ‘Popular’, ‘Defying Gravity’ and ‘For Good’.

Neil Litchfield

Read Coral Drouyn’s review of the Melbourne opening.

Images: Jeff Busby