My Wicked journey began back in 2004 whist travelling, strangely enough through Scotland. An American tourist my wife and I met upon hearing our next stop was New York, excitedly told us about a brand new musical on Broadway called Wicked.
So new and Popular (forgive the pun) was this musical that the only way to get tickets was to join a lottery to win tickets. This was back in the days when this required you to line-up outside the theatre 6 hours before, write your name on a green piece of cardboard and wait for your name to be called. No such thing as online lotteries like today.
Our first attempt at the lottery was unsuccessful as only ten double tickets were drawn from a barrel of hundreds. So we returned the next day to repeat the process … and this time … success. The seats were in the front row and I remember entering the theatre and being confronted by the giant dragon and towering set.
I knew nothing about this new musical and as I settled back, and the show began Kristin Chenoweth descended in a giant bubble like structure from stage top left!
I remember being brought to hysterical laughter as Idina Menzel sang, “Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe … Blonde” and describing the feeling they felt as loathing rather than love. Which is what I was expecting.
I was mesmerised as Menzel ascended above the stage dressed in black, broom in hand belting out Defying Gravity. And during their hilarious rendition of popular, I’m sure I saw them look at me as my raucous laughter must have hit their ears.
The production was an emotional roller coaster as I laughed and cried as these two talented Broadway actresses forged an onstage connection that was undeniably felt by the whole audience.
I returned to Australia with the soundtrack on constant replay for two years, wishing I had the means and contacts to bring it to Australia.
Fast forward seven years and Wicked finally made it to Perth. It took me until the end of the season to pluck up enough courage to see this production.
I had great fears that it wouldn’t meet the standards of the Broadway production. But my fears were unfounded as Lucy Durack, Jemma Rix and the cast took to the stage to cast the Wicked spell across Perth.
Then twelve years later we travelled to Sydney with my grand daughter to introduce her to the Wicked phenomenon. And when it arrived in Perth, this month, my 6 year old grandson became the latest member of the family to be cast with the Wicked spell.
And twenty years later the world is being mesmerised by the movie, WICKED.
The hype, interviews and marketing surrounding the movie lead me to have great expectations … and having great expectations can lead to disappointment.
There is nothing like watching a live performance as two actresses, and their cast, manage to forge a connection with an audience that has them laughing and crying, as they tell the tale of love and friendship.
And to all those bloggers and influences producing videos of you belting out the final “Ohhhhhh!” to Defying Gravity … I’ve been doing it for 20 years! 😂
Wicked (the musical) continues at Crown Theatre Perth until 2 February 2025. Wicked (the movie) continues in cinemas across the country and is available to view on selected streaming services.
Image: Courtney Monsma as Glinda and Sheridan Adams as Elphaba and the Cast of Wicked (Australia) – photo by Jeff Busby
Words: Craig Dalglish