Wicked – London Apollo Theatre – 30th December 2021.
Wicked is one of the longest-running West End musicals of all time, it has been seen by more than 10 million people in London alone and this was my second trip to the Apollo Victoria cinema to see this adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel. Having seen the show with its original London cast nearly 15 years ago I was excited to step back into the Land of Oz and the world created by L. Frank Baum over a century ago.
I settled into my seat in the stalls with an amazing view of the stage and the incredible set design; a beautiful map of the Land of Oz, an awesome dragon flying above the stage, and steampunk-esque towers to the sides which are begging for some flying monkeys to sit on them.
The story, if you are unfamiliar, starts with the early life of the Wicked Witch of the West, the villain of the original works. Stepping back into her university days and her unlikely friendship with Glinda The Good Witch, who is renowned for her philanthropic tendencies, the musical is a light-hearted journey through the two comrades’ lives. With skilled acting, outstanding vocal performances, and intricate costume design, Wicked will leave you wishing you could be an Ozzian yourself!
Having been on the stage for so long I was concerned the show would be starting to feel a bit stale, but it still shines like an emerald. The music has fantastic arrangements and clever lyrics that sew the story together seamlessly and I don’t need to say anything about the belter that is Defying Gravity; it stands for itself with Laura Pick’s powerful vocals rivalling Edina Menzel.
Wicked is as bewitching as ever.
5/5
