In 2015, I entered Gershwin Theatre to see the musical Wicked. I was left captivated by the catchy music and the enthusiastic dances. Nine years after my first introduction to the Broadway show, I returned to one of my favorite musicals … in movie form.
When I first watched Wicked on Broadway, the musical was, to me, a fun show about the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba. After I saw the musical again during my junior year of high school, my perception of the show's most powerful musical numbers changed from upbeat songs like “Popular” to more reflective ones like “No One Mourns the Wicked.” My understanding of the show’s main themes changed as well.
Wicked, a prequel of sorts to The Wizard of Oz, tells the story of the relationship between the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), and the Good Witch of the North, Glinda (Ariana Grande). The girls meet on the first day of school and become roommates. Elphaba, who possesses magical powers, is discovered by Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and is asked to be the assistant to the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). The two girls take the train to Emerald City and as they meet the Wizard, they begin to uncover secrets hidden from the Citizens of Oz.
Visually, the movie is top tier. Director Jon Chu prioritizes physical sets over CGI, and that absolutely pays off. The sets are beautiful, and their color schemes and architecture immerse audience members into the movie; their qualities make audience members feel as if they are students at Shiz University. From the bright and vibrant colors of the 9,000,000 tulips planted, to the green and gold Emerald City, I felt more involved with the story. It’s true that, as Elphaba says, “pink goes well with green.” While these two colors do not make up the primary color palette of the film, the combination appears often, a reflection of the girls’ friendship.
Musically, the live vocals made a great difference to the outcome of the movie. As a result, the movie didn’t feel all that distant from a Broadway production. Before going to see the movie, I had trust that Jon Chu would do the musical justice (as he did with In the Heights). However, I was nervous about the show becoming too movie-like and losing all of the elements that had allowed it to succeed for over twenty years on the bright and busy Time Square streets. Part of what made the movie so special for me was the live music. This choice made by both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to record their vocals live made it really easy to appreciate their raw talent.
Without giving too much away, there were also many easter eggs and references to both the movie The Wizard of Oz and Wicked on Broadway that fans of the movie and musical would enjoy, such as Elphaba riding a bike and Glinda hitting ruby slippers together three times during “Popular.” These elements were wonderful tributes to the show’s roots and embodied the influences that the musical has had on audiences around the world; I was particularly nostalgic during these moments and during a special Broadway cameo in the middle of the film.
Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey’s (who plays Fiyero, Glinda’s love interest ... for now) performances were outstanding in this film. Their off-stage friendship and respect for one another is admirable and quite visible throughout the movie. During the “Defying Gravity” scene, I could particularly see the pain and hurt that the friends experienced, the close ups to their teary eyes and the intonation of their voices made for a particularly powerful moment in the film—and a climatic end to the movie that left me thinking about it for days.
It’s evident that Jon Chu was careful about preserving the musical elements of the show and making space for added cinematic elements. This demonstrates exactly why I loved the movie—it pays wonderful tribute to everything the musical was and more. It offers many elements to the musical that could not be exactly applied to the musical. For example, in the movie, all of the sets (including a working train) were made practically, which wouldn’t have been possible in a Broadway production. Because this movie is only Part One of Two (and ends where the intermission of the stage show would be), there is more time to break down and further develop the story.
When I was little, I did not understand the social commentary that was happening behind the plot of the musical. Before, I just viewed it as a show with catchy music and fun dance sequences. It wasn’t until I returned to the show seven years later that I realized the true implications and messages of the production. It’s not just about wickedness—it is also about cruelty, violence, and propaganda.
This can be seen when Elphaba discovers that the Wizard and Madame Morrible are using her for her powers to push their discriminatory political agenda against talking animals that Elphaba, a lifelong outcast herself, doesn’t agree with. When she doesn’t comply with their requests, they brand her as “wicked” and use their power to turn the citizens of Oz and Munchkinland against her; Morrible and the Wizard make Elphaba an enemy using only their words.
The story even begins where The Wizard of Oz ends, with Glinda having to suppress her feelings after finding out her best friend died so that the citizens of Munchkinland would not turn on her as well. What makes the show so powerful is that the themes are accessible to audiences of any age, but individuals’ understanding of them grows and changes as they get older.
As I walked out of the movie theater in tears, I couldn't help but think about how the show has meant so much to me and how grateful I am for the recognition and respect it is getting not only on Broadway, but also in the box offices. My understanding of Wicked will forever be constantly changing, and it will certainly shift by next year when the Part Two of the film releases. Wicked is a musical that poses difficult questions about how people “become” good or wicked. Was Elphaba really the wicked one? Was Glinda? The audience must decide the answers to those questions themselves.
