'Wicked' A Spellbinding Masterpiece

Life would be incredible if it were more like WICKED. This musical giant is simply one of the greatest musicals ever created for the theater.

It is truly enchanting, and mesmerizing and it even challenges our minds to 'change for good.'  I wrote an ecstatic review for WICKED when it played last year at the Broward Center.

At the risk of being repetitive, I must share the glee, the joy and the afterglow from being in the presence of musical theater majesty and wizardry that WICKED gives us. If possible, WICKED is even greater than it was upon our last visit. I suspect its layers of brilliance will continue to unveil themselves in future viewings. Everyone should be required and enabled to see WICKED. The world would be happier and likely a better place for all living creatures.

When you have a musical of this caliber done with a production at this level of genius it is akin to seeing one of the finest works of art ever created while experiencing the greatest thrill ride Disney or anyone else ever concocted.

The spectacular book by Winnie Holzman from the novel by Gregory Maguire brings us under its spell just as we are beginning to fully absorb the mastery of physical production done by Eugene Lee and his team of magicians. The book for WICKED may very well be the best done for a musical since MY FAIR LADY and the impossibly explosive stagecraft is certainly the most thrilling since Michael Bennett's production of DREAMGIRLS.

In brief, WICKED is the story of the witches of Oz. It shows us how Elphaba, the wicked one, is born green and the repercussions that has. We quickly jump forward to Elphaba being roommates with Galinda (or Glinda as she later changes her name) at a sort of Hogwarts type of boarding school, where we find lessons of sorcery are soon afoot. So we have Galinda as the valley girl uppity type, crossing paths with the green colored outcast with the heart of gold. We do indeed grow to love Galinda/Glinda as she clearly grows to love Elphaba.

Frankly, this book is so amazingly perfect that we are already falling in love with the 'wicked' one, even before she makes her first actual appearance onstage. With a huge emphasis on animal rights and sensitivity, WICKED brings us a dream world where great friendships really matter, and the courage and convictions of what is right are triumphant.

The multi Oscar'd Stephen Schwartz has given us his greatest score since PIPPIN. It is simply fabulous. "The Wizard and I," "Popular," "For Good," and "Defying Gravity" are some of the songs Mr. Schwartz has given us to add to the classics of American musical theater.

The score works seamlessly with the book and set designs and stagecraft. Under the mind blowing sensation of director Joe Mantello's work, all the pieces come gloriously together. Mr. Mantello is heaven sent. When one mourns the lack of greats currently working in the theater, people like Mr. Mantello remind us that true greatness is still among us.

The choreography by A CHORUS LINE's Wayne Cilento, is carefully calculated, joyous and ultimately perfect. This is Mr. Cilento's best work. His choreography is even grander and more extensive than we were able to realize when we first saw WICKED. Remember, there is always much to marvel at up on that stage.

When one loves a show as much as I do WICKED, it is difficult not to be repetitive with adjectives. A thesaurus only helps to a certain degree. At tonight's performance Christina DeCicco as Glinda was flawless and fantastic.

Victoria Matlock as Elphaba is a performance you will likely never forget. She is at once powerful, thrilling and heartbreaking. This is a wicked witch you will love forever. The supporting ensemble is obviously perfection. There are masters running this show and no weak cog is allowed up on that WICKED stage.

The wonderful song, "Defying Gravity," the act one finale, is staged and performed at a level lovers of theater are fearful they will never experience. It is theatrical heaven and joins the ranks of "Rose's Turn," "Adelaide's Lament," "The Music And The Mirror," and a few others that once seen, will stay in your mind forever.

WICKED runs through March 25^th at the Carnival Center and there are still some scattered seats available. WICKED is also running a day of performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats. Each day, two and a half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Carnival Center Ziff Theater will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn with a two ticket maximum for each winner at $25.00 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office. If you are unable to see WICKED now, please see it when you can. I would be a happy man if life could be as spectacular as WICKED.

 FALL IN LOVE TODAY! ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER      

To post a comment, you must register and login.