After a string of great shows, I finally hit one I truly hated: Wicked. Maybe I’ve lost touch with my inner child, or maybe the production has run out of steam. Either way, it was bad.
The show reimagines The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Misunderstood and ostracised due to her green skin, she befriends the jovial Glinda at university, only for their paths to diverge as they get caught up in political machinations and deceit.
I can see why it was a hit when it first debuted: the flashy sets, big numbers, and a spin on a classic story. But in 2023, it feels tired, as though everyone involved is just going through the motions. It’s long past time to let this one retire gracefully and give its spot to something fresh. Sometimes, even a witch needs to hang up her broom.
👎👎
Wicked
Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
Music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Winnie Holzman
Directed by Joe Mantello
Cast: Alexia Khadime as Elphaba, Lucy St. Louis as Glinda, Ryan Reid as Fiyero, et al.
Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).
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