Review: WICKED Flies Into the Old National Centre

It's doubtful that L. Frank Baum could have envisioned his Wonderful Wizard of Oz turned into a philandering salesman or his Wicked Witch of the West into a falsely accused vigilante for social change. And that is precisely why Wicked, on stage at the Old National Centre in Indianapolis, is such a fantastic display of taking preconceived notions and turning them on their head.

Celeste:

If you are a novice in the world of Oz as written by Gregory Maguire and adapted by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz, you are in for quite the surprise as you take your seat for Wicked the musical. It is a bedazzling display of creativity, ingenuity, naughtiness, intrigue, and just plain fun.

This plethora of feelings and experiences hinges on the story of an unusual friendship that springs up between the school reject and head cheerleader...I mean awkward green girl with magic powers and blonde socialite with bouncing curls. This riff on a classic story line gives the audience a sense of familiarity with what is about to come, but nothing can prepare you for how much deeper and darker Wicked can become.

Elphaba, as portrayed by Mary Kate Morrissey, is the quintessential awkward bookworm when she first arrives at school. Her unnaturally green skin provide an easy scapegoat for her social rejection, and her uneasiness is evident. Mary Kate Morrissey shows quite clearly from her body language that Elphaba does not begin as an outspoken and entirely confident young woman. She is hunched, gangly, and moves with less than an ounce of grace. It's not hard to see in her that person you knew once upon a high school hallway who tended to pound about in overly clunky combat boots. What makes Elphaba so enchanting, however, is the way in which she emerges from this almost self-imposed prison of awkward and becomes a convicted, vocal advocate for changing the questionable politics of Oz. Morrissey shows this evolution in both body and song, and it is riveting as an audience member to cheer for this young woman who has found a voice that is full and strong.

Elphaba's counterpart, Galinda (the "Ga" being silent of course), seems to come from another planet entirely. Preferably one that is pink, glittery, and full of ball gowns. Glinda is portrayed by Ginna Claire Mason, and if she cannot provoke hysterics with her antics on stage, your sense of humor may be broken. She so delicately balanced between funny and annoying, with her effervescent and sometimes stringent personality. By far one of the best scenes to showcase this talent is during the song "Popular," which is the hymn to Elphaba's baptism into the church of Glinda: beauty, flirtation, and unrivaled social success. This scene between Morrissey and Mason was such fun for the audience that the actresses nearly broke character in the midst of their antics. It was a joy to watch and made their friendship that much more believable.

Of course the two leads were exceptional, but the Wonderful Wizard himself is not to be neglected. Tom McGowan shows that the Wizard is an accidental public official who is perhaps lacking the wherewithal to lead an entire world. He is a bit of a bumbler, and his decision making is rather unethical. Yet, McGowan brought to the role a boyish charm that made you almost feel for the Wizard and judge him a mite less harshly. After all, he did not plan it in advance.

Dylan:

After 15 years of tick-tocks, the award-winning musical, Wicked, may have lost its super star cast of Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth, but it has added a much profounder meaning in the parallels it magics up between Oz and the real world it has enchanted since its 2003 debut.

If you don't know the "Mean Girls" meets "Harry Potter" story line, Wicked is a remixed version of the goings-on before the movie, "The Wizard of Oz" and the majority of the story takes place prior to Dorothy's arrival. The story is told as a flashback by Glinda as Ozians celebrate the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda then reveals that no only did they know each other in college, they actually friends.

Although the show has a shadier storyarc than you might expect, it also shares a behind-the-scenes message of hope. Ginna Claire Mason plays as the bubble-riding Glinda who is able to look beyond Elphaba's (Mary Kate Morrissey) green skin to see the good side of her, and the tough pair go from a completed repugnance of each other to changing each other's lives for the better. This show demonstrates how a single act of kindness can set into motion events that can have life-lasting effects.

The production was huge to say the least. Everything from the incredible accompaniment, to the huge clockwork set changes - everything was perfect. By the time Elphaba was defying gravity and intermission started, I felt like I was finally able to blink... even though this is my 4th time seeing it. The whole show is chock-full of talent, you don't want to miss a second.

On the visual side, WICKED is a marvel to witness. Susan Hilferty has designed loads of individual and colorful costumes for Munchkins, flying monkeys, and other Ozians. The entire story is played out on a whimsical stage decorated with intricate steampunk designs. Kenneth Posner's light designs are extensive in number, type, and range. Eugene Lee's colorful sets incorporate all manner of theatrical devices that are able to advocate for a wealth of locations and do it with a refreshing style that is often missing in other productions. The overblown costumes and out-of-this world lighting only help to add to the magical atmosphere of Oz.

Even if you've already seen this classic musical, it is absolutely worth seeing again. Whether you're looking for any political meaning between catchy show tunes or just looking for a fun night out, you will not be disappointed.

It would be a downright shame to miss out on this dark, humorous, and uplifting story of friendship, not to mention learning to fall in love again with the wonderful world of Oz. So, be sure to visit through May 13th.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus